Hebrew speakers or others who might know,
Does there exist an equivalent of this (the lawyer's prayer) for judges?
(My Googling yielded nothing except a suspicion that the lawyer's prayer is also fit for use by judges, but I'll be happy to be proven wrong.)
I've never heard of such a thing... including a prayer for lawyers! There's nothing to stop anyone saying a prayer in the hope that it will help them in their profession, whatever it is. I don't think this "prayer" has any standing in Halacha (Jewish religious law).
In contrast, one is supposed to recite a blessing on seeing certain natural phenomena, such as a rainbow, or trees in blossom for the first time in the year, but that is a religious requirement. To the best of my knowledge, there is no such religious requirement for members of professions to say a prayer.
My guess is that it's simply a nice thing to hang as decoration in one's office, and it would certainly be appropriate for judges as well. In fact, reading the text, it's more approprate for judges than for lawyers. The quotations are all biblical, and there were of course judges in biblical times but there were no lawyers!
Shuffaluff, do you know if the prayers that you see people hang in cars etc. have any Halachic standing? I think this is one along those lines. (Not a required prayer, just one that makes people feel good.)
there were of course judges in biblical times but there were no lawyers!
Aaron pleaded Moses's case for him in the court of Pharaoh, no? A mouthpiece if not precisely a lawyer. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say they were both representing their people, with Aaron doing the trial work and Moses the back office work. (But somehow Moses got most of the glory for it, which is not usually how that works.)
Whether it's halachic or not (wouldn't we expect a halachic prayer to begin with a blessing?), I like this prayer. And yes, it's appropriate for judges but maybe we can come up with some other ideas. For judges I like Psalm 85:10 (11 in my copy of the Tanakh but I haven't checked how the numbering differs):
Mercy and truth have met each other; justice and well-being have kissed.
(There are a couple of references to lawyers in the New Testament, none of which you would want to hang in your office. For example: "Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.")
The Greek word translated lawyer in the New Testament quote above is nomikos, and probably "expert in the law" or "Torah scholar" would be a better translation. I don't think it has any connotation of representing people.
Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say they were both representing their people, with Aaron doing the trial work and Moses the back office work. (But somehow Moses got most of the glory for it, which is not usually how that works.)
Moses got to present the cool exhibits.
I like your suggested Psalm 85:10/11, Vinny.
Moses got to present the cool exhibits.
Indeed. "The clerk will mark the murrain of cattle as Exhibit 5."
I was wondering about orech din and was led here which I thought was of interest. It looks like it might be a good site for SiTniks in any case.