Side judge

Side judges run at-large (not specifically for one of the two seats) and county-wide in November of even-numbered, non-presidential election years, and serve four-year terms.

[5] Side judges who undergo some training may also sit alone in small claims, uncontested divorces, traffic offenses, and violations of municipal ordinances.

[11][12] The idea of side judges appear to have been borrowed from the colony of Pennsylvania, and they were also part of the judiciary in other states, including New Hampshire and Connecticut.

Some updates and changes to Vermont's court system included elimination or a reduced role for the side judges, but most of those efforts have been unsuccessful.

[18][19] As of October 2023, the assistant judges in each county are:[47] Middlebury[48] Bennington[49] St. Johnsbury Burlington Guildhall St. Albans North Hero, Vermont Hyde Park Chelsea Newport Rutland Montpelier Newfane Woodstock