Facts about a Judge's Judicial Title

A judge is an individual who is granted a judicial title and who presides over court proceedings within his/her specified jurisdiction. Judges are referred to using judicial titles, including "Your Honor". In other instances, a judge's name will be preceded by the title "honorable". Acting as a judge is a very respectable position. In order for an individual to become a judge, he/she must complete an extensive education, acquire a significant amount of experience, and demonstrate superb judgment, values, and ethics. A judge holds an extensive amount of authority in the United States judicial system. Therefore, a judge should be shown respect both inside and outside of the courtroom. The judicial title used to refer to a judge will vary from one country to another, and within the United States, it even differs from state to state. For example, in the state of New York, judges are often referred to as "justices". Judges within this state who specifically focus on cases involving estates and guardianship are called "surrogates". A judge’s judicial title will often vary depending upon the jurisdiction that he/she presides over. For instance, judges who are members of the United States Supreme Court are commonly called "justices of the peace". A "magistrate judge" is a judge who is considered to be subordinate to other judges. A judge who presides specifically over bankruptcy court may be called a "referee", while an "administrative law judge" oversees cases involving immigration and government benefits. A retired judge may be called a "senior judge".

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