Sorry Doc,
I have never competed in a Bokin Trial before, However i own Boykins and have Trained for others as well including some of the top Boykin Upland Dogs in the country.
To answer your question AKC just started requiring Judges to be certified.
I have completed the questionares and test.
American Field does not currently have any requirements what-so-ever to judge trials.
Along with multiple problems in AF field trials. Have lead to this year some of the top handlers leaving. Not to say exactly why. I will not run under some of the Judges that are in stakes today.
AF is very political and the best dog sometimes does not win.
I will always name the the bestdog a winner in a stake no matter the breed.
What the dog did at the last trial or last year has no bearing on their performance at this event. Also i do not care who the owner is or what trial that owner or handler is judging next week.