Judge

Overview

Who is Judge?

A judge is an elected official who is appointed to conduct court proceedings and uphold the law to administer justice in a constitutional manner. They preside over the courtrooms, ensuring that the law is followed and justice is served in each case. Depending upon the scope of their role and the power vested in them, a judge may preside over both civil and criminal proceedings. They are tasked with the responsibility of interpreting the law in an unbiased, reasonable and fair manner. They are conferred with the power to dictate verdicts, determine the sentence in criminal cases, and decide the fine amounts in civil cases.

They administer, control, and interpret the law as it is laid down by the constitution of the country acting, providing justice to the citizens that seek it. A judge is expected to perform their duties with the highest level of integrity to dispense justice. Owing to their extensive knowledge about the country’s laws, they are an authority on various matters concerning the nation. They are in charge of making the final verdict on court cases.

Typical day at work

What does Judge do?

A judge's work is to provide justice abiding by the rules and codes of ethics in the court of law. Judges work in various domains and take up specific cases as per their expertise and experience. They take up different cases like criminal cases (including homicide, honor killing, murder, etc), cases related to property disputes, dowry, harassment, etc. They monitor all the hearings and the proceedings of the court cases. They provide sentences in criminal cases, work with the conviction of the jury, and are following the government norms and statutes. They ensure that the hearings are done as per the law and the code of conduct, and make sure that the victim gets justice according to the legal system.

• Preside over court proceedings, trials, and hearings.
• Assess the admissibility of evidence as well as analyze and interpret it in the context of the case.
• Listen to the allegations and arguments presented by the persecution and the defence, hear witness testimonies, review legal briefs.
• Maintain an impartial stance on the cases and use sound judgement to dictate a fair verdict or a sentence.
• Determine the liability of the defendants.
• Rule on the motions presented in the courtroom.
• Conclude the case by determining the extent of the punishments levied in the form of monetary fees and damages.
• Enforcing the code of conduct in the courtroom and inform the defendants of their rights.
• Make decisions regarding the approval or denial of arrests or search warrants.
• Supervise the work of law clerks, court officers, and other court staff.
• Assist in jury selection, provide support to the jury and manage them during trials.
• Meet with attorneys for discussions regarding discovery issues, objections, pretrial motions.

Abilities & aptitude needed

What are the skills, abilities & aptitude needed to become Judge?

In order to be a judge as a part of India’s judicial system, one must have excellent communication skills in order to encourage the settlement between parties, mediate disputes, and tactfully deal with sensitive issues. They must have excellently developed listening skills in order to effectively understand all details of the case and accurately analyze the information presented in the proceeding. They must be highly detail-oriented and skilled at critical thinking in order to analyze the factual and legal elements of a case. They must possess extensive knowledge about the law and judicial procedures, which is continually updated. They should be equipped with excellent problem solving and organizational skills in order to extract and synthesize vast amounts of relevant data to address the legal situation.

Their decision making and reasoning skills are crucial in order to weigh the facts and apply the laws to make decisions that are unbiased, fair, and just. They should display professional conduct and follow certain customs specific to the court such as brandishing a hammer. In order to qualify for the position of a Judge in any court of India, one must be a citizen of India and below 65 years of age.

Courses

Which course I can pursue?