Magistrate - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition magistrate

magistrate

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[Latin magistratus magistracy, magistrate, from magistr- magister master, political superior]
1 : a civil or judicial official vested with limited judicial powers [a family support ] [a traffic ]
2 a : a municipal, state, or federal judicial officer commonly authorized to issue warrants, hear minor cases, and conduct preliminary or pretrial hearings called also magistrate judge
b : an official (as a judge) authorized to perform the role or function of a magistrate [ means an officer having power to issue a warrant for the arrest of a person charged with a public offense "Arizona Revised Statutes"]