Kohtunik

Kohtunik is an Estonian noun used to denote an official who makes decisions and enforces rules in competition or law. The term has two principal senses: a sport official (referee or umpire) and a judge or adjudicator within the judiciary, though the exact role depends on context and historical period.

In sports, a kohtunik is the person who oversees a game or event, ensures that rules are followed, starts and stops play, calls fouls or violations, and manages timekeeping. Depending on the sport, there may be a head kohtunik and one or more assistant officials, such as line judges or sideline officials, all coordinating to keep the match fair and safe.

In a legal context, the word can refer to a judge who presides over a case or to a lay assessor in some trials. The duties generally include hearing evidence, applying the law as instructed, and delivering a ruling or judgment. The exact status of a kohtunik within the court system varies by court type and historic era; in modern Estonian judicial practice, official titles for judges are defined by law, with "kohtunik" appearing in some formal descriptions and older texts.

Kohtunik is a common term in Estonian-language sources related to sports administration and legal discourse, and it remains widely recognized by the public as the designation for an official who officiates games.