A criminal judge is somebody who will preside over all types of criminal dispute, usually in a Crown Court. The role of a judge will be slightly different in a criminal court as often it will be the juries that decide if the defendant is guilty or not guilty. The judge will therefore have the role of ensuring the right questions have been asked in the case and the juries are aware of the standard of proof needed for a guilty verdict. The judge will then have the task of sentencing the defendant should a guilty verdict be reached.
A judge in a civil court will be decide on the balance of probabilities which party ‘wins’ the case. However, the distinction between these two types of judge is less important these days with many judges practicing in both civil and criminal courts.