A disproportionate share of state court judges previously served as prosecutors, or less commonly as criminal defense attorneys or trial lawyers, although no particular background as an attorney is required to serve as a judge. The judiciary is not a separate profession in the American legal system as it is in many civil law jurisdictions. While in many civil law jurisdictions a common judicial career involves an entry-level assignment in an inferior court followed by promotions to more senior courts over the course of a career, no U.S. court system makes experience in an inferior judicial position a prerequisite to higher judicial office.
A disproportionate share of state court judges previously served as prosecutors or less commonly as criminal defense attorneys or trial lawyers although no particular background as an attorney is required to serve as a judge The judiciary is not a separate profession in the American legal system as it is in many civil law jurisdictions While in many civil law jurisdictions a common judicial career involves an entry-level assignment in an inferior court followed by promotions to more senior courts over the course of a career no US court system makes experience in an inferior judicial position a prerequisite to higher judicial office