It got its name "The Judge" in 2006 when Bob Morrison, Executive Vice President, learned that judges in high-crime areas of Miami, Florida, were purchasing the revolver for personal defense in their courtrooms, and after Morrison investigated further, the model designation was changed from 4410 to 4510 to more accurately reflect the revolver's versatility (.45 Colt + 410 shot → "4510").

[1] The rifling is shallower than normal, giving single-projectile loads less stabilization than they would receive in other handguns while reducing the rapid dispersion of the shot from shotshells.

Felt recoil can be significant with the Ultra-Lite series, due to its light weight, especially with .45 Colt rounds.

[5] At the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show in January 2009, Taurus introduced several new models of the Judge.

[6] In 2011 at SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Taurus introduced the Raging Judge XXVIII chambered for 28 gauge shotshells.

[11] The carbine has a buttstock and forend made of either Brazilian hardwood or plastic and uses a fiber optic front sight.

However, shot is usually intended to be fired through a smooth bore, and the spin imparted by a handgun's rifling scatters it quite widely, limiting its effectiveness to very short ranges.

The shallower rifling of the Judge's barrel is designed to stabilize bullets but not unduly scatter shot.

In 2008 Taurus introduced the Judge Magnum which can fire either standard 21⁄2" or 3" .410 shotshells which contain five 000 buckshot and are more effective as personal defense rounds.

[3] Several ammunition companies offer .410 ammo specifically designed for the Judge with propellant optimized for shorter barrels.