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
When are magistrates going to keep bad guys behind bars?
—
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Kwok's charge carried a maximum prison term of seven years, but his case was heard at the magistrates’ courts, which normally hand down sentences of no more than two years.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 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
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
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
Kwok's charge carried a maximum prison term of seven years, but his case was heard at the magistrates’ courts, which normally hand down sentences of no more than two years.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for magistrates
Noun
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Givens filed a court petition to issue a temporary restraining order against Dallas County commissioners from rewarding judges with a collective $500,000 in supplemental pay because the payment plan excludes her.—
Steve Pickett,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
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Noem’s minions would defy and frustrate federal judges seeking basic information from DHS about the department’s compliance with court orders.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Morley also noted that any constitutional dispute tied to the elections clause could ultimately reach the Supreme Court after review by the Virginia courts.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Mar. 2026
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The estate via the combative Branca, who is portrayed by Miles Teller in the heavily authorized (to put it very, very politely) Michael, has fought back in the courts against Paris Jackson’s actions.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Magistrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/magistrates. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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