Cadet Judges appear in the fictional universe recounted in the Judge Dredd comic strip that appears in the UK comic 2000 A.D.

Before becoming fully fledged 'Street Judges', Cadet Judges must serve 15 years at the Academy of Law where they will receive the intensive training and conditioning that will enable them to enforce law and order in the chaotic and confusing place that is twenty second century Mega City One.

A Cadet is inducted into the Academy either as a cloned infant (as was the case with Judge Dredd), or as a child aged five or under (although in exceptional cases older children have been recruited). After this the Academy is the recruit's entire world; unsupervised contact with the city outside is forbidden under any circumstances in order to maintain the strictest discipline and mental conditioning. Before graduating, a Cadet must undergo assessment by more experienced senior Judges in order to gauge their suitability and competence. The failure rate for Cadet Judges is extremely high, with no second chances usually allowed.