It’s a common misunderstanding in the lay man’s language that the term Judge and Magistrate are synonymous. It is not so. A judge is a lawyer by their degree long records of law service.
Comparison Table Between Judge and Magistrate
| Parameter of Comparison | Judge | Magistrate |
|---|---|---|
| Appointed by | The President and the Governor | State Government and the High Court |
| Qualification | Must have a degree or master in law | Not necessarily need an LLB |
| Jurisdiction | Larger area- Mostly National | Smaller- at a State Level |
| Cases | Very serious legal battles | Local and minor cases |
| Power | Yes –at a top-notch level | Yes, but at the local level only |
| Verdict | The judge has the power to give a death sentence | A magistrate does not have the power to give a death sentence. |
Who is Judge?
The word Judge has derived its roots from a French word ‘jugier’ which means ‘judicare’ or ‘to judge’. A judge is appointed by the President of India after a discussion with the Chief Justice of India and the Governors of all the States of India.
The judge is responsible to factually evaluate the legal cases through court proceedings.
The judge has the power to decide the verdict of the legal case but that is done through a panel of judges. In short, the judge plays the role of an arbitrator between the parties that need justice.
The trial prosecution, defense lawyer and the arguments at play are heavily understood, evaluated, discussed and pronounced a future through the books of law.