You should now be familiar with how appointed judges compare to elected officials and the role of judicial review in U.S. government. A middle school civics class is studying the role of judges, and the teacher has enlisted your help! Use the information you’ve learned in the lesson and the profiles below to write an interview script with a judge that will help middle school students understand the important job judges do.

Step

1. Select a judge to “interview” from one of these Profiles. Alternatively, you could choose to interview a real judge!
2. Imagine yourself as the judge you read about in the profile. From his or her perspective, compose answers to the following questions:
   • How is your role in government different from an elected official?
   • How is it the same?
   • Do you think judges should be elected? Explain why or why not.
   • What is judicial review?
   • Please explain the role of judicial review in a case you recently decided.
   • Please explain how you arrived at your decision, including different factors that affected it.

Note: If you choose to actually interview a judge, be sure to address the questions above, in addition to any others you’d like to ask. Review this Presentation on conducting an interview to review tips and good practices.