e/Side judge

Information
has gloss	eng: Side judge is a judicial position apparently unique to the state of Vermont. Side judges sit with the judge in Superior and Family court. There is a Superior and a Family Court located in each of Vermont's 14 county at their "shire town" or county seat. The Superior Court handles only civil cases and violations of traffic laws and municipal ordinances; they do not handle misdemeanors or felonies. There are normally two side judges, but the court may proceed with only one side judge or none. In theory the side judges, who are generally not attorneys, have input only on matters of fact, with legal decisions left to the judge, but the vote of a side judge has the same weight as that of the judge, so two side judges can outvote the judge. If there is only one side judge and the side judge and the judge disagree on a matter of fact, a mistrial is declared.
lexicalization	eng: side judge
instance of	c/Region-specific legal occupations