Hi,

Thanks for your question. Yes, at certain Regular REL events, like Friday Night Magic, the judge is both able to judge the event and participate in the event. From Section 1.4 of the Magic Tournament Rules, section on Participation Eligibility:

Tournament officials may play in a DCI-sanctioned, rated tournament for which they are a tournament official if (and only if) the tournament is of the following types:

• Friday Night Magic
• Prerelease
• Standard Showdown
• Magic Weekend
• Other non-Premier Magic Tournaments
• Tournaments in which the official Wizards of the Coast tournament fact sheet specifically permits officials of that tournament to play

If one or more tournament officials play in the tournament, it must be run at Regular Rules Enforcement Level. If tournament officials play in the tournament and the tournament is not one of the allowed types listed above, the tournament will be invalidated. Tournament officials are required to officiate tournaments fairly and without regard to their own self-interest.

Nathan Long
Magic Rules NetRep