magistrate
n. countablen. a judge in a local court who deals with less serious crimes. They usually decide on smaller legal problems or send bigger cases to a higher court.
n. a civil officer or lay judge who administers the law, typically in a court of limited jurisdiction. In many legal systems, they preside over summary offences and preliminary hearings for more serious crimes.
The magistrate ordered the defendant to pay a small fine.
After hearing the evidence, the magistrate decided there was enough proof to send the case to a jury trial.
While professional judges handle complex litigation, the local magistrate often deals with the immediate legal realities of the community, from traffic violations to minor public order offences.
From Middle English magistrat, maiestrat (“magistrate; magistracy”), borrowed from Latin magistrātus. See also -ate (forms nouns denoting rank or office).
Commonly used in the context of 'appearing before a magistrate' or 'the magistrate's court'.