noun
Refers to a person who evaluates or judges in contests, auditions, examinations, or similar settings. Neutral term; can be used for both formal and informal judging panels.
彼は歌のコンテストで審査員を務めた。
He served as a judge at the singing contest.
審査員の評価は公平だった。
The judges' evaluations were fair.
裁判官 refers specifically to a judge in a court of law, whereas 審査員 is used in non-legal evaluation contexts.
Compound of 審査 (examination, judgment) and 員 (member, person). The word follows a common pattern for forming occupational or role-based nouns.