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
In 16th-century Italy, gamblers could wager on the election of civic magistrates and the outcome of papal conclaves.
—
Parker Bach, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Another major change concerned the High Judicial Council, which oversees magistrates’ appointments and disciplinary matters.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Petro did not participate in the attack, which left several guerrillas and around half the high court's magistrates dead.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
When are magistrates going to keep bad guys behind bars?
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Unlike the first trial in Avignon, which was overseen by five professional magistrates, the appeal trial was judged by a jury, and this time citizens had their say.
—Gaby Wood, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2026
Judges and magistrates are required to follow the law and constitutional standards in every case and cannot make decisions based on ideology or public pressure.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
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
Investigating magistrates have filed preliminary charges against three men and one woman who were arrested last month.
—CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
Parker Bach, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
Another major change concerned the High Judicial Council, which oversees magistrates’ appointments and disciplinary matters.
—ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026
Petro did not participate in the attack, which left several guerrillas and around half the high court's magistrates dead.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
When are magistrates going to keep bad guys behind bars?
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Unlike the first trial in Avignon, which was overseen by five professional magistrates, the appeal trial was judged by a jury, and this time citizens had their say.
—Gaby Wood, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2026
Judges and magistrates are required to follow the law and constitutional standards in every case and cannot make decisions based on ideology or public pressure.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
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
Investigating magistrates have filed preliminary charges against three men and one woman who were arrested last month.
—CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for magistrates
Noun
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Federal judges push back As the flood of habeas petitions washed into federal courtrooms in Denver, judges have repeatedly rejected ICE’s effort to rewrite federal law and have ordered bail hearings or the immediate release of immigrants.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
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Access to such human capital permitted me to accelerate the new law school’s ability to serve its community and so more quickly build a favorable reputation among judges and lawyers.—
Stephen B. Young,
Twin Cities,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
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For associations, unit owners will know what to expect in actions seeking to remove a director, and courts could become more involved in governance disputes involving dysfunctional boards, developer transitions, or allegations of financial mismanagement.—
Evonne Andris,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
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Ann McColl, a constitutional scholar and former general counsel for the North Carolina Association of Educators, suggested the issues Leandro addressed may be in North Carolina courts again.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Magistrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/magistrates. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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