Legal Definitions - side judge

A side judge is a type of judge who is associated with a higher-ranking judge to form a court. In the past, there were two side judges, but now there is usually only one. The side judge's role is to assist the higher-ranking judge in making decisions and to ensure that the court proceedings are conducted fairly.

In a football game, a side judge is responsible for monitoring the sideline and making calls related to player substitutions, out-of-bounds plays, and penalties. The side judge works with the head referee to ensure that the game is played according to the rules and that both teams have a fair chance to win.

This example illustrates how a side judge works with a higher-ranking official to ensure that the rules are followed and that the game is played fairly. The side judge's role is to assist the head referee in making decisions and to ensure that both teams have an equal opportunity to succeed.