2006-12-21 09:07:44 · 8 answers · asked by gods233 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
a lawyer for a long time.....then u get either elected or appointed...
2006-12-21 16:20:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Not all jurisdictions require that a judge have a legal background. But in this day and age, to find a judge who is not a lawyer or has significant legal background is almost unheard of. The judiciary is so complicated in this day and age that it really requires the knowledge of a skilled and experienced attorney to fill the position. Judicial appointment and/or elections are very political, which means that the candidate has usually practiced law for a long time and/or worked in a government-prosecutorial role or sometimes as a public defender. Some positions are filled by candidates who have a highly academic background in law, such as a Ph.D in Law, which adds another dimension to the judiciary.
Judges, depending on the post, are either elected or appointed. Municipal or county judgeships, depending on the state, are either appointed or elected. Higher up the chain, state-level judgeships are often appointed by the governor, but are also elected positions. Federal judgeships are appointed by the President, then confirmed in the Senate.
There is often a split of appointed posts and elected posts, to create a balance, just like other branches of government.
To be appointed, you need to have connections and exposure in the political world. To be elected also helps to have the same things, but is just like any other political office, requiring campaigning in the jurisdiction you intend to serve.
2006-12-21 17:41:26 · answer #2 · answered by Rofonzo 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
In most parts of the US, you have to belong to a "political club" (ie, a local branch of one of the Two Parties) for a few years so they can get to know you and then, when your party is in power, you make a large contribution to the state or county chairman and....
Shazam! Presto! You a judge!
I'm absolutely serious. From what I gather from a lot of listening to people and a lot of reading, this is the actual way it works almost everywhere in the US. Judges get their positions by bribing local party officials. It's a wonder the System is as honest as it is.....
The saving grace is that apparently, a lot of these people who buy their way into judgeships, do it for the prestige and aren't actually planning on getting rich from their office so it isn't quite as bad as it looks. Still, there's far too many judges who do want to make their money back and more so people need to be more wary of them.
Personally,every time I hear of some judge handing down a weirdly lenient verdict, I assume, repeat ASSUME that money has changed hands....
Nimadan
2006-12-21 17:37:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
you have to become a lawyer first. Then you have to become appointed to become a judge in most states, but in Texas you are voted in.
2006-12-21 20:21:22 · answer #4 · answered by beauty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have to a lawyer first. Judges can be elected, or appointed.
2006-12-21 20:18:51 · answer #5 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You'll have to go to law school first. Pass the bar. Then be a lawyer. Then get elected or appointed.
2006-12-21 17:09:41 · answer #6 · answered by Curious_One 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have to be a lawyer for a long time.
2006-12-21 17:15:00 · answer #7 · answered by Michael R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You gotta be a lawyer then get chossen
2006-12-21 17:14:45 · answer #8 · answered by Barack The Boat!™ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋