Moses was constantly occupied with tending to the people’s needs and resolving disputes between them. Yitro advised him to establish a wide-ranging, decentralized judicial system. To that end, Moses needed to select people worthy of serving as judges. The Sages explain the qualities of a judge according to Yitro.

“You shall identify from all the people capable men, fearers of God, men of truth, haters of ill-gotten gain” (Exodus 18:21). Capable men means those who are mighty in their striving to understand the Torah…. Fearers of God is in accordance with its straightforward meaning. Men of truth refers to those who insist on the truthfulness of judgment. Haters of ill-gotten gain refers to those who are haters of even their own property; all the more so, the property of others. Such a person should say: Even if he burns my grain pile, even if he cuts down my vineyard, I will judge him justly. (Tanĥuma, Yitro)