Judges

Nature of work

Judges decide civil and criminal cases and administer justice in courts of law. Judges oversee over federal and provincial courts.

Job duties

Judges: Lead courts, interpret and enforce rules of procedure and make rulings about the admissibility of evidence.

• Instruct the jury on laws that are applicable to the case.
• Weigh and consider evidence in non-jury trials and decide legal guilt or innocence or degree of liability of the accused or defendant.
• Pass sentence on individuals convicted in criminal cases and determine damages or other appropriate remedy in civil cases.
• Grant divorces and divide assets between spouses.
• Determine custody of children between contesting parents and other guardians.
• Enforce court orders for access or support.
• Supervise other judges and court officers.
• Judges may specialize areas of law like civil, criminal or family law.

Sample job titles

• chief justice
• court of Queen's Bench justice
• family court judge
• federal trail court justice
• provincial court of appeal justice
• small claims court judge
• superior court justice

Skills

• Excellent spoken communication skills are important for courtroom work. You should have a strong command of language and the ability to think logically and analytically. Patience, tact, and an understanding of human nature would be helpful in dealing with the public.

Job requirements

• Judges usually require extensive experience as a lawyer or as a professor of law with continuous membership in the bar association.
• Membership in good standing with a provincial law society or bar association is required.
• Judges are appointed by federal or provincial cabinets.
• Those appointed to more senior positions in a court, like chief justice, usually have experience as judges in that court.

Other considerations

• Judges tend to work regular business hours.

Regulations

Contacts

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