A Judge oversees the legal process in court cases. Interprets law, advises jurors during trials, writes opinions and decisions, and gives verdicts in cases decided without a jury. May decide on a sentence for the defendant in a criminal case, or liability of a defendant in a civil case; may facilitate negotiations between parties in a dispute. Works in a county, state or federal court system.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Florida Southern District Court Fort Lauderdale, FL Job Details Full-time $229,908 a year 22 hours ago Qualifications Bar Full Job Description Job Details for U.S. Magistrate Judge Court Name/Organization Florida Southern District Court Overview of the Position The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of a full-time U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Florida at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This appointment will succeed an incumbent who will retire on March 7, 2027. The essential function of courts is to dispense justice. An important component of this function is the creation and maintenance of diversity in the court system. A community's belief that a court dispenses justice is heightened when the court reflects the community's diversity. Location Ft. Lauderdale, FL Opening and Closing Dates 07/15/2026 - 08/09/2026
Appointment Type Permanent Salary Starting:
$229,908 Position Description The duties of the position are demanding and wide ranging, including, but not limited to: 1) conduct of most preliminary proceedings in criminal cases; 2) trial and disposition of misdemeanor cases; 3) conduct of various pretrial matters and evidentiary proceedings on delegation from the Judges of the District Court; 4) trial and disposition of civil cases upon consent of the litigants; and 5) assist the District Court with any "additional duties as are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Laws of the United States." The basic authority of the United States Magistrate Judge is found in Title 28, United States Code, Section 636. Qualifications To be qualified for the appointment an applicant must: Be, and have been for at least five years, a member in good standing of the bar of the highest court of a state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Territory of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or the Virgin Islands of the United States, and have been engaged in the active practice of law for a period of at least five years (with some substitutes authorized); Be competent to perform all the duties of the office; be of good moral character; be emotionally stable and mature; be committed to equal justice under the law; be in good health; be patient and courteous; and be capable of deliberation and decisiveness; Be less than 70 years old; and Not be related to a Judge of the District Court. Miscellaneous A Merit Selection panel (see Administrative Order 2026-56 ) composed of attorneys and other members of the community will review all applicants and recommend to the District Judges of the Court, in confidence, five persons it considers best qualified. The Court will make the appointment following an FBI full-field investigation and an IRS tax compliance check of the applicant selected by the Court for appointment. The individual selected must comply with the financial disclosure requirements pursuant to the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, Pub. L. No. 95-521, 92 Stat. 1824 (1978) (as amended) (codified at 5 U.S.C. §§ 13101-13111) as implemented by the Judicial Conference of the United States. An affirmative effort will be made to give due consideration to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, age (40 and over), gender, religion, national origin, or disability. The current annual salary for the position is $229,908. The term of office is eight years. In order to be available for emergency, after hours and weekend duty matters, the successful applicant is expected to reside within the division applied for, or an adjacent division within the District, or relocate to the division (or adjacent division) within a reasonable amount of time upon appointment. Application Info All applications will be kept confidential, unless the applicant consents to disclosure, and all applications will be examined only by members of the Merit Selection Panel and the District Judges of the Court. The panel's deliberations will remain confidential. The Court's policy is that once an application has been submitted, applicants should not initiate contact with members of the Merit Selection Panel. Applicants may, however, respond to inquiries initiated by Panel members. Instructions for completion and submission of the application are included on each application form. Completed applications must be received by 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
