King James Bible
"And they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves."
The newly appointed judges served continuously, not just during formal court sessions or festivals. This established a permanent judicial system that made justice accessible to Israelites whenever disputes arose, replacing Moses's unsustainable practice of single-handedly hearing all cases. Complex legal matters requiring special wisdom or divine revelation were escalated to Moses as the supreme judge. This preserved his unique role as God's spokesman while preventing his exhaustion from routine disputes. The judges independently resolved minor conflicts without supervision, demonstrating the trust placed in them and the effectiveness of Jethro's delegation strategy. This division of labor allowed the judicial system to handle both the volume and variety of cases among the Israelites.