Family Court Judge Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Family Court Judge

Best Schools to become a Family Court Judge in U.S. 2024

Georgetown University

Washington, DC

In-State Tuition:$61,872
Out-of-State Tuition:$61,872
Admission Rate:12%
Graduation Rate:96%
Total Enrollment:20,984

Harvard University

Cambridge, MA

In-State Tuition:$52,659
Out-of-State Tuition:$52,659
Admission Rate:3%
Graduation Rate:98%
Total Enrollment:30,631

George Washington University

Washington, DC

In-State Tuition:$60,856
Out-of-State Tuition:$60,856
Admission Rate:49%
Graduation Rate:85%
Total Enrollment:25,939

New York University

New York, NY

In-State Tuition:$55,384
Out-of-State Tuition:$55,384
Admission Rate:12%
Graduation Rate:87%
Total Enrollment:59,144

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY

In-State Tuition:$61,989
Out-of-State Tuition:$61,989
Admission Rate:4%
Graduation Rate:95%
Total Enrollment:34,782

Fordham University

Bronx, NY

In-State Tuition:$56,920
Out-of-State Tuition:$56,920
Admission Rate:54%
Graduation Rate:83%
Total Enrollment:16,556
Family Court Judge Job Description:
  • Arbitrate, advise, adjudicate, or administer justice in a court of law.
  • May sentence defendant in criminal cases according to government statutes or sentencing guidelines.
  • May determine liability of defendant in civil cases.
  • May perform wedding ceremonies.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Family Court Judge

Job Duties for Family Court Judges

  • Instruct juries on applicable laws, direct juries to deduce the facts from the evidence presented, and hear their verdicts.

  • Monitor proceedings to ensure that all applicable rules and procedures are followed.

  • Sentence defendants in criminal cases, on conviction by jury, according to applicable government statutes.

Technologies and Skills Used by Family Court Judges

Document management software

  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Hyland OnBase Enterprise Content Management

Electronic mail software

  • Email software
  • Microsoft Outlook

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Basic Skills

  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem

People and Technology Systems

  • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Family Court Judge

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Family Court Judge

FAQs About Becoming a Family Court Judge