Legal Definitions - J.

The abbreviation "J." is commonly used in legal documents and professional discourse to stand for Judge. A judge is a public official appointed or elected to preside over court proceedings, hear cases, and make decisions based on the law.

Here are some examples illustrating the use of "J.":

• Example 1: A court's written decision might conclude with a signature block stating, "So Ordered this 15th day of October, 2023, by Hon. Patricia Chen, J."

  Explanation: In this context, "J." is used directly after Judge Chen's name in an official court order. It clearly indicates that the document was issued and authorized by her in her capacity as a judge, making it a concise way to identify the judicial officer responsible for the ruling.

• Example 2: When a lawyer is citing a specific judicial opinion in a legal brief, they might write, "In Smith v. Jones, Justice Roberts, J., articulated the principle that..."

  Explanation: Here, "J." is used within a legal citation to identify the specific judge who authored or contributed to a particular court opinion. This allows legal professionals and scholars to quickly and precisely refer to the individual judge's contribution to a case or legal precedent.