By now, we hope you’ve heard the news that Mesa Arizona Family Law Attorney Brad Crider has been appointed as Superior Court Judge Pro Tem in Maricopa County. So what exactly does that mean and how does it benefit the families and clients he works with?
Being appointed as Judge Pro Tem is no small task. First, an attorney must meet the qualifications, which include:
- At least 30 years of age
- Of good moral character
- Admitted to the practice of law in this state for not less than 5 years preceding his/her appointment
Once qualified, attorneys must then go through an extensive application process and then be selected and appointed as Judge Pro Tem.
A Judge Pro Tem serves as a temporary judge. They are not considered a regular judge, but are called upon to serve temporarily as a judge, as long as both parties involved in a case consent. A court might call upon a Judge Pro Tem to serve when there are too many cases for regular judges to handle.
In most cases, a Judge Pro Tem is asked to hear a case in a matter that is in their field of practice. For example, a family law attorney serving as Judge Pro Tem will typically hear or oversee family law cases. When they serve, they hold all of the same powers as a regular judge, including the ability to pass judgment when necessary.
For Brad, serving as a Judge Pro Tem will allow him to put his knowledge of family law to use in a direct way. He’ll continue to gain valuable experience that will help him sharpen his skills as an attorney. Serving in the capacity will also give him insight into other family law cases and give him opportunities to see the legal system from a different point of view.
Because Brad is consistently client-focused, there is no doubt that this experience will only serve to benefit Brad’s clients and the families that he works with. This new perspective will only help him become even more effective as a family law attorney.
