Which term best describes judges who operate under state law and maintain records?

• A. State Court Judges
• B. Federal Judges
• C. Administrative Law Judges
• D. Magistrate Judges

Answer: (A)

In the United States, the judiciary is split into state and federal systems. Judges who operate under state law apply state statutes and the state constitution, and their court records are kept within the state court system. That description matches state court judges, who handle cases governed by state rules and maintain state-level records.

Federal judges, by contrast, interpret federal law and the U.S. Constitution, with records kept in the federal judiciary. Administrative Law Judges work within agencies to rulings on agency-specific matters, not general state court matters. Magistrate Judges are part of the federal system and handle pretrial duties under federal rules. So the term that best fits judges who operate under state law and maintain records is state court judges.