as in judges
a public official having authority to decide questions of law
chose to take their case before the local magistrate
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Recent Examples of magistrates
The district judge declined her jurisdictional prerogatives, saying that the case was too serious to be settled in a magistrates’ court and must be heard by a Crown Court, which deals with the most severe criminal offenses.
—
Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The law includes a variety of provisions, including stricter bail rules for many violent offenses, a new protocol for judges and magistrates ordering mental health evaluations and funding for additional prosecutors in Mecklenburg County.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 26 Nov. 2025
Investigating magistrates have filed preliminary charges against three men and one woman who were arrested last month.
—CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
The situation, the magistrates conceded, was tricky.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Johnston’s proposal originally abolished the city’s parking magistrates, eliminating any non-court options for residents who want to appeal their ticket.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
On June 1, commemorating one year since his unconstitutional reelection, Bukele appeared on national television from the National Theater, surrounded by his deputies, his loyal magistrates and prosecutor, and many soldiers.
—Óscar Martínez & Carlos Martínez, The Dial, 16 Sep. 2025
Then her latest statement took a different tack and blamed courts and magistrates for allowing repeat offenders to remain on the streets.
—Wesley Bruer, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
But the evidence of Abrego Garcia’s gang ties remains limited, and has been called into question by immigration judges, magistrates and district court judges.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
The law includes a variety of provisions, including stricter bail rules for many violent offenses, a new protocol for judges and magistrates ordering mental health evaluations and funding for additional prosecutors in Mecklenburg County.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 26 Nov. 2025
Investigating magistrates have filed preliminary charges against three men and one woman who were arrested last month.
—CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
The situation, the magistrates conceded, was tricky.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Johnston’s proposal originally abolished the city’s parking magistrates, eliminating any non-court options for residents who want to appeal their ticket.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
On June 1, commemorating one year since his unconstitutional reelection, Bukele appeared on national television from the National Theater, surrounded by his deputies, his loyal magistrates and prosecutor, and many soldiers.
—Óscar Martínez & Carlos Martínez, The Dial, 16 Sep. 2025
Then her latest statement took a different tack and blamed courts and magistrates for allowing repeat offenders to remain on the streets.
—Wesley Bruer, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
But the evidence of Abrego Garcia’s gang ties remains limited, and has been called into question by immigration judges, magistrates and district court judges.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for magistrates
Noun
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Regardless of which party is calling for the impeachment of judges, the outcome is unlikely to result in a conviction by the Senate.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Jan. 2026
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RuPaul’s Drag Race features mainstay judges RuPaul Charles, Michelle Visage, Carson Kressley, Ross Mathews, and Ts Madison.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Department of Justice last month sued the clerk of the Fulton County superior and magistrate courts in federal court seeking access to documents from the 2020 election in the county.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
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The Budapest Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday asked the courts to level a fine against Karacsony for stepping in to co-organize the event under the auspices of the capital municipality, according a statement published on Wednesday.—
Thomas Escritt,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Magistrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/magistrates. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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