A judge pro tempore, also known as a judge pro tem, is a temporary judge, often retired from the bench, who can be hired by the parties, through their lawyers, to preside over a divorce case, instead of a traditional judge assigned randomly upon the filing of a divorce action.
The use of a judge pro tem, in certain cases, may have significant benefits and advantages.
Efficiency and speed
One of the most significant advantages of a private judge is that you can dramatically speed up your divorce and have better control over the timing. Divorce cases handled in regular courtrooms are subject to crowded dockets, long delays, and the court’s procedures. With a judge pro tem, the entire process can be streamlined and tailored around the schedules of the parties and their lawyers, often making for faster resolutions and decisions.
Flexibility and control
When you have an issue that goes before a judge in a traditional courtroom, the judge has limited time and often is unable to provide unique or creative solutions that may better work for your family. A judge pro tem typically has more time available to hear the evidence, consider the law, and better tailor the outcome of the case to the particular facts and evidence presented, without the pressure of having to decide another case right after the conclusion of your case. Additionally, when a case needs to be continued due to unforseen circumstances, a judge pro tem is in a better position to reschedule the case in a more timely manner and without having to consider all of the other cases on the court’s docket.
Privacy and confidentiality
Public courts are just that – public. If you are concerned about how the details of your divorce might affect your reputation in your community, whether your financial information may become publicly available, or whether your children may later obtain access to your court filings, a judge pro tem offers a more private and discreet solution.
Athough the parties desiring to use a judge pro tem must pay for the judge’s time, unlike a more traditional judge employed by the state or local government, the cost of a judge pro tem often pays for itself in terms of speed, efficiency, and better outcomes.
