Final answer:
Writing pre-sentence reports is not typically the duty of a judge; instead, this task is often carried out by probation officers. Judges are responsible for setting bail, ruling on motions, and signing search warrants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The duty that is NOT typically within a judge's responsibilities is writing pre-sentence reports. These reports are usually prepared by probation officers or social services staff and include a variety of information about a defendant that a judge might use to inform sentencing decisions. However, a judge's common duties do involve setting bail, ruling on motions, and signing search warrants. The bail is set to ensure that a defendant appears at future court proceedings; ruling on motions involves making decisions on various procedural and substantive legal matters during a case; and signing search warrants authorizes law enforcement to conduct a search of a specified location for evidence of a crime.