Judges

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

• Preside over courts of law, interpret and enforce rules of procedure and make rulings regarding the admissibility of evidence

• Instruct the jury on laws that are applicable to the case

• Weigh and consider evidence in non-jury trials and decide legal guilt or innocence or degree of liability of the accused or defendant

• Pass sentence on persons convicted in criminal cases and determine damages or other appropriate remedy in civil cases

• Grant divorces and divide assets between spouses

• Determine custody of children between contesting parents and other guardians

• Enforce court orders for access or support

• Supervise other judges and court officers.

• Judges may specialize in particular areas of law such as civil, criminal or family law.

• Extensive experience as a lawyer or as a professor of law with continuous membership in the bar association is usually required.

• Membership in good standing with a provincial or territorial law society or bar association is required.

• Judges are appointed by federal or provincial cabinets.