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
-
Every statewide officeholder and most state judges, including those on the state supreme court, are Democrats.—
Will Swaim,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
-
When such criminal cases are dismissed, judges can consider whether the defendant should be ordered into involuntary mental health treatment.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Because the feudal courts, chivalric codes, and aristocratic patronage that had sustained it were gone.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
-
That order was struck down in multiple courts.—
Jacob Rosen,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Magistrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/magistrates. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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