Duties and tasks

• Instructing the jury on points of law that are applicable to the case
• Passing sentence on persons convicted in criminal cases, determining damages or other appropriate remedy in civil cases and issuing court orders
• Interpreting and enforcing rules of procedure and making rulings regarding the admissibility of evidence
• Presiding over trials and hearings
• Weighing and considering evidence in non-jury trials and deciding legal guilt or innocence or degree of liability of the accused or defendant
• Researching legal issues and writing opinions on the issues
• Determining the rights and obligations of the parties involved, and in cases tried by jury