Which statement about a public official is true?

• A. A public official includes a judge of a court created by or under a statute of this State.
• B. A public official includes retail managers in the private sector.
• C. A public official includes anyone who works for a private school.
• D. A public official excludes judges.

Answer: (A)

Public officials are people who hold positions of public trust within the government and exercise governmental powers—like making decisions that affect the public, enforcing laws, or managing public resources. A judge in a state-created court fits this description because courts are established by statute and the judge’s role is to interpret and apply the law for the public. That makes a judge a public official. In contrast, a retail manager in the private sector does not exercise governmental powers; their authority is private. Likewise, someone who works for a private school isn’t part of the government and isn’t a public official unless the school is publicly funded or operated by the government. Saying that judges are excluded is incorrect because judges are indeed public officials.