WEBVTT

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One of our most important rights

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—the right to a fair trial—

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rests on the shoulders of judges

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and hearing officers.

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They conduct pretrial hearings,

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resolve administrative disputes,

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facilitate negotiations

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between opposing parties,

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and issue legal decisions.

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Judges hear cases that range from

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traffic offenses

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to the rights of large corporations.

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Before a trial, they often review documents,

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research legal issues,

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and listen to arguments

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to determine if a trial is warranted.

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Depending on the case,

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judges either instruct jurors on the law

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and guide them in considering evidence,

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or decide the case directly,

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determining whether a sentence

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or penalty is justified.

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Critically, they ensure fair proceedings

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so that the legal rights

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of all involved parties are protected.

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Administrative law judges,

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adjudicators, and hearing officers

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operate outside the courts—

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they work for government agencies,

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on issues such as determining eligibility

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for workers’ compensation benefits

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or verifying a case of

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employment discrimination.

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Judges and hearing officers

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work for state, local, and federal governments.

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Hours are full time,

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sometimes with evening and weekend hours,

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and on-call duty for emergencies.

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Although a few positions

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require only a bachelor’s degree…

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a law degree, license,

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and years of work experience

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as a lawyer are typically required for judges

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or hearing officers.

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Some positions are elected…

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others are appointed…

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for terms lasting from 4 years to life.