Why arnt judges joe public?

why arnt judges especially high court ever from normal levels of society it seems to me correct me if im wrong that they most of the time come from privelaged backgrounds usually with an oxbridge education, are people from ordinary backgrounds not suitable for these jobs ,if they are why dont they get them?.

reason being, not the average college student can afford college period, nevermind law school. then furthering it more to be a judge, many years of great experience, making a name for yourself, putting forth the effort, furthering your bar even more TO become a judge...etc.
As the ol' saying goes, it takes money to make money.
but don't tell Judge Mathis that
;-) he came from poverty, crime, the streets, and earned his! he worked and worked hard!

Because you need to be very highly educated in order to be able to make informed desicions as a judge. That's the difference between a judicial and a jury trial - judges are supposed to know a LOT about law. Sadly it is still the case that rich people are more likely to be able to afford the vast amounts of education needed to be able to become a judge. I'd much rather have an under-representation of "normal" people than judges who have absolutely no idea what they're talking about.

First of all you need a law degree and a vast amount of experience to elevate to the high levels of the judicial system. The supreme court justices are some of the most brilliant people in our country. Think about it they are responsible for upholding the constitution of the US. This is not a job for the average joe. You must be a brilliant intellectual that is highly educated. Sorry.

I disagree with the brilliant intellectual reply lol,some of the bollocks made by appeal judges and judges in general here in Britain are breathtaking!You've hit the answer on the head with your question,public school and Ox-bridge educated and what here in England is called the 'Old school tie'similar to the 'Ivy league'in the states Most of the very senior judges are demented and extremely old,if your going along that line is George Bush a brilliant intellectual?as the 'leader of the free world?Incidentally your mistaking intellect with education,2 different things!

If ordinary people go to law school and then run for a judicial position, they can be a judge, if they win.

Many ordinary people don't have that kind of ambition otherwise they wouldn't be oridinary.

this country's most talented jurist was born poor, raised by his grandparents, and worked for everything he ever got.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Th...

You seem to ignore the fact that the vast majority of criminal cases are dealt with by Magistrates courts, the majority of whom are pretty average, decent people.

They have to go through a lot to become judges, they have to lawyer first and before that a whole lot of school, they can't just hire Timmy the dimwitted trash guy.

Many judges are from suprisingly humble back grounds and far from all of them have Oxbridge educations although it is fair to say many do. I would suggest that perhaps you get the chip off your shoulder

would you like to be sentenced by a shaved monkey in a tracksuit from a council estate?