For Most Americans, the Judge Is the Symbol of Justice

For most Americans, the judge is the symbol of justice. Of all the actors in the criminal justice process, the public holds the judge most responsible for ensuring that the system operates fairly and impartially. And most certainly the trappings of office—the flowing black robes, the gavel, and the command “All rise!” when the judge enters the courtroom—reinforce this mystique. As important as these symbols are, they sometimes raise obstacles to understanding what judges actually do and how they influence the criminal justice process.

-Which of the following is/are the jobs of a judge?

A) arrest offenders
B) record court proceedings
C) impose sentences
D) charge defendants