A judge is an elected or appointed official who conducts court proceedings. Judges must be impartial and strive to properly interpret the meaning, significance, and implications of the law.

The role of a judge during a hearing depends on whether or not a jury is present. In most serious criminal cases, a jury is present and thus it is the trier of fact, meaning that the jury looks at the evidence presented to the court and determines what actually happened and whether or not the defendant is guilty. The judge is the trier of law, meaning he or she ensures that everything happening in the courtroom follows the rules set down by the law.llb