We are pleased to announce the Exemplar Program, a community-driven and Senior Judge designed peer-recognition system where L2+ judges will have the opportunity to recognize judges of all levels throughout the world.

Goal
The goal of the Exemplar Program is to recognize the contributions that judges make to the Magic Community. Its aim is to grow the quality of judges through peer recognition and provide positive examples for others to follow. By providing examples of judges who exhibit good behavior and provide a positive impact on the Judge Community, the belief is all judges will have role-models and clear examples of conduct which will improve the quality of judging globally.

The Challenge
Senior Judges worked together to create a program that would:
Find ways to strengthen the Judge Community and increase judge recognition;
Expand the reach of judge foils;
Focus on how to recognize examples of great contributions to the Magic Community;
Empower judges to engage in peer recognition; and
Be flexible and allow for future ideas from the Judge Community.

How
L2+ judges will decide what qualities to recognize and how it is valued in their respective communities. L2+ judges will have the opportunity to periodically make a limited number (based on level and role) of submission of recognition for another member of the Judge Community; these recommendations will be, in turn, reviewed by the Senior Judges and made public to the global Judge Community.

The Exemplar Program will begin in 2014 for L3+judges and will be fully implemented for all judges in 2015. While judge activities will continue as before, in 2015, judges foils will only be available as part of the Exemplar Program.