Judge

In the legal profession, a judge is a person who preside over court proceedings, either alone or as a member of a panel of judges. Every witness and any other evidence provided by the barristers or lawyers on behalf of the parties is heard and considered by the judge, who then gives a judgement in the matter based on his or her interpretation of the law as well as their own individual opinion. A judge is required to handle the trial in an unbiased manner and, in most cases, in full view of the public.

The authority and tasks of judges, as well as the procedure of appointment, punishment, and training, change significantly from one jurisdiction to the next. In certain countries, the judge's authority may be supplemented by the authority of a jury. In inquisitorial systems of criminal inquiry, a judge may also serve as an examining magistrate in addition to being a judge. In order for all court procedures to be legal and orderly, the presiding judge must guarantee that they do so.