Shaphat means to judge, govern, decide, or vindicate. It appears about 200 times. It describes judicial rulings, governing the nation, and God's ultimate judgment. The 'judges' of Israel were shofetim.
God is the ultimate Judge who judges righteously. Human judges are His representatives, required to judge fairly. 'He has shown you what is good: to do justice' (Micah 6:8). Christ will judge the living and the dead. Judgment is both a present reality (God's governance) and a future hope (final vindication).