term:

Judge

judge vb

judged
judg·ing
[Old French jugier, from Latin judicare, from judic- judex judge, from jus right, law + dicere to decide, say]
vt
1 : to hear and decide (as a litigated question) in a court of justice [ a case]
2 : to pronounce after inquiry and deliberation [he was judged incompetent]
vi
: to make a determination
: decide [ between two accounts]
n : a public official vested with the authority to hear, determine, and preside over legal matters brought in court
;also
: one (as a justice of the peace) who performs one or more functions of such an official

Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law ©1996. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. Published under license with Merriam-Webster, Incorporated.