Definition of magistrate
: an official entrusted with administration of the laws: such asa : a principal official exercising governmental powers over a major political unit (such as a nation)b : a local official exercising administrative and often judicial functionsc : a local judiciary official having limited original jurisdiction (see jurisdiction 1) especially in criminal cases
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Examples of magistrate in a Sentence
chose to take their case before the local magistrate
Recent Examples of magistrate from the Web
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In those footnotes, the magistrate judge took several shots at Widmer's lawyer, Michele Berry-Godsey.
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A federal magistrate judge recently ruled -- for the second time in five months -- any further appeals by Widmer would be frivolous.
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The lawsuit was assigned to a federal magistrate judge Monday, but no hearing date was set.
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In a 60 minute hearing at Westminster magistrates court, the case was sent to Southwark Crown Court, with the next hearing scheduled for July 17.
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R.L. Gillespie, an acting justice of the peace, was named magistrate to enforce the ordinance.
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Yet when Mr. McFarland, 25, made his first appearance before a magistrate judge on Saturday afternoon, he was represented by a public defender.
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As the drama was unfolding outside the courtroom, inside magistrates were busy issuing a number of rulings further hemming in the opposition.
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A Hobart father listened Wednesday as a magistrate read him his rights, charges and potential penalties.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'magistrate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of magistrate
Middle English magestrat, from Latin magistratus magistracy, magistrate, from magistr-, magister master, political superior — more at master
Other Government and Politics Terms
MAGISTRATE Defined for English Language Learners
magistrate
playDefinition of magistrate for English Language Learners
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: a local official who has some of the powers of a judge
MAGISTRATE Defined for Kids
magistrate
playDefinition of magistrate for Students
1 : a chief officer of government
2 : a local official with some judicial power
Law Dictionary
magistrate
playLegal Definition of magistrate
1 : a civil or judicial official vested with limited judicial powers a traffic magistrate
2a : a municipal, state, or federal judicial officer commonly authorized to issue warrants, hear minor cases, and conduct preliminary or pretrial hearings —called also magistrate judge b : an official (as a judge) authorized to perform the role or function of a magistrate magistrate means an officer having power to issue a warrant for the arrest of a person charged with a public offense — Arizona Revised Statutes
Origin and Etymology of magistrate
Latin magistratus magistracy, magistrate, from magistr- magister master, political superior
Learn More about magistrate
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See words that rhyme with magistrate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for magistrate Spanish Central: Translation of magistrate Nglish: Translation of magistrate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of magistrate for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about magistrate
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