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Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates

Under the title Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates, workers arbitrate, advise, adjudicate, or administer justice in a court of law. O*NET rates it as extensive preparation, which usually means graduate school and often five years or more of related experience. It leans on active listening, critical thinking, and reading comprehension. You may also need to sentence defendants in criminal cases, on conviction by jury, according to applicable government statutes. Interest ratings put Enterprising on top at 5.3 out of 7 and Conventional second, so the code is ECS and the day leans toward leading, persuading and making business decisions. It tends to suit people who want leading, persuading and making business decisions, and it offers little for anyone seeking creative work with room for original expression.

What they do

Arbitrate, advise, adjudicate, or administer justice in a court of law. May sentence defendant in criminal cases according to government statutes or sentencing guidelines. May determine liability of defendant in civil cases. May perform wedding ceremonies.

Main tasks

  • Sentence defendants in criminal cases, on conviction by jury, according to applicable government statutes.
  • Monitor proceedings to ensure that all applicable rules and procedures are followed.
  • Instruct juries on applicable laws, direct juries to deduce the facts from the evidence presented, and hear their verdicts.
  • Write decisions on cases.
  • Read documents on pleadings and motions to ascertain facts and issues.
  • Rule on admissibility of evidence and methods of conducting testimony.

Skills

  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Writing
  • Speaking

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like taking the lead and making the call.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You are prepared for graduate-level study and a long training path.
  • You are comfortable relying on active listening and critical thinking.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather not persuade, sell or manage other people.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 2.2 out of 7 here.
  • You want to be working in the field within the next few years.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code ECS takes the three highest, and Enterprising comes first here.

Preparation

Extensive preparation. Many jobs here need graduate study, and people often spend five years or more building specialist experience.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Doctoral Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Circuit Court Judge
  • Circuit Judge
  • County Judge
  • Court of Appeals Judge
  • District Court Judge

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.