Education within the Judicial system

Write a constructive and reasoned criticism or commentary on one of your classmate’s editorial or commentary published in Stage Seven. Post this article to your blog and as a comment in your classmate’s blog.

The judiciary system is by far the most complicated out of all of the three branches of government in Texas. Few people care to take a close look into it because of its many twists, turns and inconstancies, but the system should be looked at in order to better our own justice system. In our book, it explains the requirements of all the justices and judges. Their requirements vary quite drastically.  

Justices of Peace simply need to be registered to vote, no age or experience/ education required.

Constitutional County judges need to be '"well informed in the law of the State"' which doesn't include any sort of degree or education.

Statutory County court judge requires twenty five years of age, licensed attorney, and minimum four years experience.

District court judges "must have resided in the judicial district for two years and have been a licensed attorney in Texas or judge for four years."  

Supreme court, courts of appeals, and court of criminal appeals requires thirty five years of age and practicing attorney or judge of a court for ten years. 


Technically speaking, the only job that requires an education indefinitely is the statutory county judge, the rest of them have a loop hole for the education requirement. With most of these requiring little to no education, one starts to wonder how well informed our judges can be. Experience within the system is a plus, however one cannot learn everything through experience, just like students cannot learn everything through books. To be a well rounded, well informed judge, he/she needs to know all aspects of the judicial system. Being that this is the most complicated branch out of the three, and education in government would be essential no matter what how far up in the courts they are. Most people want to progress in their careers, earn more money and become more important. The system cannot assume that judges will remain stationary in the position they are in, they will progress and as they do more experience AND education will be required. Therefore, I believe an education in the judiciary system should be a standard for ALL of the courts. There are too many variations within the system to not be well informed of it all. The criminal court and the court of appeals are two opposite sides of the spectrum. Judges should have knowledge of both and understand how the other half of their system works. Without and in depth look into the system, an education, it's difficult to be well informed about the laws and the system itself.