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[[File:Contest Judges anime.png|thumb|250px|The Contest Judges in the anime]]
A '''Pokémon Contest Judge''' (Japanese: '''コンテストの{{tt|審査員|しんさいん}}''' ''Contest Judge'') is a [[Human|person]] who works at [[Contest Hall]]s judging [[Pokémon Contest]]s. Contest Judges have appeared in the [[core series]] {{pkmn|games}}, the {{pkmn|anime}}, and multiple {{pkmn|manga}} series. They preside over the proceedings, enforce the rules, assign scores, and ultimately decide the winner.

==In the core series games==
===Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald===
In {{game2|Ruby|Sapphire|Emerald}}, a single judge supervises the formal procedures and reviews the performances delivered by the contestants' {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}. He will react in different circumstances and his input will affect the progress of the competition. His reactions and their effects are listed below.

{| class="roundy" style="margin:auto; background: #{{contest color}}; border: 3px solid #{{contest color dark}}; width: 80%"
|-
! style="background:#{{contest color light}}; text-align:center; {{roundytl|5px}}" | Screenshot
! style="background:#{{contest color light}}; text-align:center; {{roundytr|5px}}" | Description
|- style="background:#fff"
| [[File:RSE Contest Judge number one.png|240px]]
| When a Pokémon uses a move which makes itself move first or last in the next turn, the Judge will have the number 1 or 4 over his head and the Pokémon will be indicated with the text "NEXT TURN: X", where X is the same number over the Judge's head. If another Pokémon uses a similar appeal and moves to the beginning or end, the Pokémon that performed earlier will shift position, and "NEXT TURN: X" will change accordingly.
|- style="background:#fff"
| [[File:RSE Contest Judge question mark.png|240px]]
| When a Pokémon uses a move which scrambles the order in the next turn, the Judge will have a {{wp|question mark}} over his head, and each Pokémon will be indicated with the text "NEXT TURN: ?".
|- style="background:#fff"
| [[File:RSE Contest Judge coil spring.png|240px]]
| When a Pokémon uses a move twice in a row, the Judge will have a {{wp|coil spring}} over his head. The Pokémon will lose two hearts the first time a move is repeated, three hearts the second time, and so on. There are a few moves to which this rule does not apply, such as {{m|Hidden Power}}. To prevent repeating moves accidentally, the name of the move used in the previous turn is grayed out when selecting a move to appeal with.
|- style="background:#fff"
| [[File:RSE Contest Judge exclamation mark.png|240px]]
| When a Pokémon uses a move which can be [[Contest combination|combined]] with another, the Judge will have a single {{wp|exclamation mark}} over his head and the Pokémon will be indicated by a flashing red dot or a flashing panel. When the Pokémon knows a move which can form a combination with the move used in the previous turn, the name of the move will be red when selecting a move to appeal with.
|- style="background:#fff"
| [[File:RSE Contest Judge double exclamation mark.png|240px]]
| When a Pokémon uses a move which forms a combination with the move used in the previous turn, the Judge will have a double exclamation mark over his head and the Pokémon will receive double the amount of hearts it would in a basic appeal.
|- style="background:#fff"
| style="{{roundybl|5px}}" | [[File:RSE Contest Judge star.png|240px]]
| style="{{roundybr|5px}}" | When a Pokémon uses a move which increases its [[Contest condition|condition]], the Judge will have a star over his head and the Pokémon will be indicated with a star. Subsequent moves will add one extra heart to the Pokémon's score. The Pokémon can continue to increase its condition during the competition, and one extra heart will be added to its score for each star received. Pokémon with an increased condition are less likely to become nervous.
|}{{-}}

===Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum===
In {{game2|Diamond|Pearl|Platinum}}, there are three judges in charge of overseeing [[Pokémon Super Contest]] proceedings—[[Jordan]], [[Dexter]], and [[Keira]]. They play an active role during the {{DL|Pokémon Super Contest|Acting Competition}}, where they award points to {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} that have performed [[move]]s for them.

{| class="roundy" style="margin:auto; background:#{{contest color}}; border: 3px solid #{{contest color dark}}"
! style="background:#{{contest color light}}; {{roundytl|5px}}" | Circumstance
! style="background:#{{contest color light}}; {{roundytr|5px}}" | Hearts awarded
|- style="background:#fff"
| Sharing a judge with no one
| +3
|- style="background:#fff"
| Sharing a judge with one contestant
| +2 each
|- style="background:#fff"
| Sharing a judge with two contestants
| +1 each
|- style="background:#fff"
| style="{{roundybl|5px}}" | Sharing a judge with three contestants
| style="{{roundybr|5px}}" | None
|}

The excitement in the [[Contest Hall]] is measured through each Judge's Voltage, a series of five ovals that may be filled or emptied depending on the {{DL|Contest condition|moves}} performed to them. Performing a {{OBP|Tough|condition}} move in a Toughness Contest will raise the Voltage by one whereas a {{OBP|Cute|condition}} or {{OBP|Beautiful|condition}} move will lower the Voltage by one. If a Judge reaches five Voltage after a Pokémon's performance, the Pokémon will be awarded bonus hearts, as shown in the table below.

{| class="roundy" style="margin:auto; background:#{{contest color}}; border: 3px solid #{{contest color dark}}"
! colspan=2 style="background:#{{contest color light}}; {{roundytl|5px}}" | Judge
! style="background:#{{contest color light}}; {{roundytr|5px}}" | Hearts awarded
|- style="background:#fff"
| [[File:Rich Boy IV OD.png]]
| [[Jordan]]
| +5 (regular judge)
|- style="background:#fff"
| [[File:Gentleman DPPt OD.png]]
| [[Dexter]]
| +8 (head judge)
|- style="background:#fff"
| style="{{roundybl|5px}}" | [[File:Idol OD.png]]
| [[Keira]]
| style="{{roundybr|5px}}" | +5 (regular judge)
|}

===Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire===
Although the judges do not appear in [[Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire]], they are mentioned by a few [[non-player character]]s in the [[Contest Hall]]s, and mechanics similar to those associated with the Judge of [[Pokémon Contest]]s in [[Generation III]] affect the performances of the contestants' Pokémon during the Pokémon Contest Spectaculars.

==In the anime==
In the {{pkmn|anime}}, a set of judges sit together to decide which [[Pokémon Coordinator]] most effectively displays their {{OBP|Pokémon|species}}. The panel of judges is usually formed by:

* The Chief of the [[Pokémon Activities Committee]] and Head Judge, [[Raoul Contesta|Mr. Contesta]];
* The [[Pokémon Fan Club Chairman|President]] of the [[Pokémon Fan Club]], [[Mr. Sukizo]];
* The [[Pokémon Center lady|operator]] of the local [[Pokémon Center]], [[Nurse Joy]].

The judges are responsible for evaluating each presentation delivered during the [[Appeal|Performance Stage]] and determining the contestants who will advance to the next stage. In order to do that, they take into consideration the Pokémon's entry, its [[Friendship|level of cooperation]] with its {{pkmn|Trainer}}, its appearance, and the way it executes its [[move]]s. They form opinions from the first attack and then analyze the degree of the Pokémon's development from that point onward. In [[Double Performance]]s, the synchronicity between the two Pokémon is also observed. After assessing a performance, they share their thoughts by making quick comments. When all performances have been reviewed, the results are revealed by the [[Contest announcer|master of ceremonies]].

In the [[Contest Battle|Battle Stage]], the judges are tasked with subtracting points from a Coordinator's score. They will generally take points away from Coordinators whose attack plan failed or whose Pokémon got hit with an attack. A particularly appealing move or [[Contest combination|combination]] delivered by a contestant's opponent is also a cause for point deduction. In addition, Coordinators will see their points reduced when their strategies are taken advantage of. During a Contest Battle, the judges pay attention to the Pokémon's wellness, and if they perceive that a Pokémon is unable to continue battling, they will rule {{DL|Fainting|Battle Off}} for said Pokémon. This will end the battle immediately and the Coordinator with the remaining Pokémon will be declared the winner of the match. In [[Double Battle|two-on-two]] Contest Battles, the judges also evaluate the pair's teamwork.

At the end of a Pokémon Contest, the judges will rise from their seats to congratulate the Coordinator who emerged victorious. As the Head Judge, Mr. Contesta awards the winner with a prize [[Ribbon]].

===Special cases===
[[File:Sinnoh Grand Festival Judges.png|thumb|250px|Fantina in the panel of judges]]
There are instances in which the judges are joined by a special guest. This usually occurs during major events, such as the [[Wallace Cup]] and the [[Grand Festival]]. Additionally, some competitions will have more than one Nurse Joy serving as judge.

Pokémon Contests not officially established by the [[Pokémon Activities Committee]], such as the [[Terracotta Town]] Pokémon Contest, will not have [[Raoul Contesta|Mr. Contesta]] or [[Mr. Sukizo]] serving as judges; the local [[Nurse Joy]], however, may join the judging panel.

* [[Wallace]] is a part of the panel of judges in the competition bearing his name, the [[Wallace Cup]].
* [[Vivian Meridian|Vivian]] briefly left her duties as an [[Contest announcer|announcer]] to join the judging panel for the [[Kanto Grand Festival]] from ''[[AG180|May, We Harley Drew'd Ya!]]'' to ''[[AG182|Channeling the Battle Zone!]]''.
* [[Johanna]] filled in for [[Nurse Joy]] in the [[Neighborly Town]] [[Pokémon Contest]] in ''[[DP167|Teaching the Student Teacher!]]''.
* [[Fantina]] temporarily closed the [[Hearthome Gym]] to attend the [[Sinnoh Grand Festival]] as a special guest judge from ''[[DP174|Last Call — First Round!]]'' to ''[[DP177|A Grand Fight for Winning!]]''.

==In the manga==
[[File:Contest Judges Adventures.png|thumb|280px|The Contest Judges in Pokémon Adventures]]
===Pokémon Adventures===
===={{MangaArc|Diamond & Pearl}}====
In the [[Pokémon Adventures]] manga, the judges for the [[Pokémon Super Contest]] appeared in ''[[PS351|Perturbed by Pachirisu]]'' judging a {{OBP|Cool|condition}}ness Contest {{adv|Platinum}} had entered.

===Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!===
In the [[Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!]] manga, the Super Contest Judges appeared in ''[[DPA06|Beauty Contest: The Pokémon Super Contest!!]]'', overseeing the proceedings of a [[Rank (Contest)|Normal Rank]] event [[Hareta]] and {{OBP|Jun|DPA}} were taking part of.

==In other languages==
{{langtable|color={{contest color light}}|bordercolor={{contest color}}
|fi=Kilpailutuomari
|fr=Juge des Concours
|de=Wettbewerbs-Jury
|it=Giudice delle Gare
|ko=콘테스트의 심사위원 ''{{tt|Contest-ui Simsa Wiwon|Contest Judge}}
|pt_br=Juiz de Torneio
|es=Juez de Concursos
}}

==See also==
* {{cat|Episodes with Contests}}
* [[Battle judge]]

{{Super Contests Judges}}
{{Contest}}<br>
{{Project Anime notice|no}}

[[Category:Contest Judges|*]]
[[Category:Game characters]]
[[Category:Animation characters]]
[[Category:Manga characters]]
[[Category:Pokémon Contests]]

[[it:Giudice di Gara]]