21 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
A judge’s day usually starts by reading pleadings, motions, and case files in Microsoft Word, Adobe PDFs and Hyland OnBase (the document system) to see what issues are scheduled. Mornings often begin with courtroom hearings: arraignments, preliminary hearings, or civil motions where you rule on evidence admissibility and monitor proceedings.
Afternoons are for writing opinions, sentencing defendants, or reviewing jury instructions. You also handle scheduling—setting trial dates in the courtroom scheduling system—and may issue warrants or temporary restraining orders between hearings.
Expect to use Hyland OnBase or a similar enterprise content management system to pull case records, Microsoft Word to draft orders and opinions, and Adobe Acrobat to review and annotate court filings. Courtroom scheduling software manages dockets and trial dates.
For legal research you’ll use Thomson Reuters Westlaw and LexisNexis to find precedent and statutes. Clerks often help with some inputs, but you must read and sign the documents yourself.
Judges can use AI only as an assistant—never as the final authority. You might use AI to summarize long filings or draft an initial outline, but you must check every legal citation and factual statement against Westlaw, LexisNexis, the record in Hyland OnBase, and primary sources.
Never allow AI to generate legal conclusions without your verification. The court is responsible for accuracy; mistakes in law, fact, or citation can be appealed. Treat AI like a junior clerk that needs full supervision.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for 2025, there are about 24,030 judges and magistrates employed. The median annual wage is $153,990; the lowest 10% earn about $46,950 and the highest 10% earn about $221,710.
Actual pay varies by jurisdiction, level (municipal, state, federal), and years of service. For precise numbers in your state, check state compensation schedules or local judicial branch publications.
Judges are appointed or elected public officials who preside over courts, apply public law, sentence defendants, grant divorces, and write binding written opinions. They administer justice in public courtrooms and enforce custody/support orders.
Arbitrators are private, chosen by parties to resolve disputes outside court; their awards come from contract terms and are not always public law. Magistrates often handle preliminary criminal matters and may have limited powers compared with a full judge, depending on the jurisdiction.
Clarity in writing and reasoning is the most important skill: you must write clear opinions, rulings on evidence, and sentencing orders that lawyers and appellate courts can follow. Practice by drafting opinions in Microsoft Word, citing authorities from Westlaw/LexisNexis, and reviewing them against the record in Hyland OnBase.
Also cultivate courtroom management: run hearings on time, control testimony, and use courtroom scheduling tools. Seek feedback from experienced judges and have clerks proofread legal citations and factual recitals.