When I am asked what I do for a living, I respond that I work in Family Court. When pressed for further information, I disclose that I am a Support Magistrate. Almost everyone replies, “Oh, what’s that?” For people who are outsiders to Family Court, my job is a mystery.

If someone employed within the Family Court, other than a support magistrate, were asked for a description of my job, they would probably tell their inquirer that a support magistrate is a person who makes decisions in support cases. While that is probably the simplest way to describe what I do, the support magistrate position is so much more than that. Even though my job is intricate, I typically respond in the same way—with a brief, understandable version. When I ponder whether people truly understand my role in the court system, even those who come in contact with me every day, I realize that the answer is they do not.