Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A district-court magistrate is a type of judge who has limited power and authority, often dealing with criminal cases on a local level. They can set bail, accept guilty pleas, and impose sentences for traffic violations and similar offenses. In some states, they can also conduct informal hearings on civil infractions. They are not as powerful as higher-ranking officials like the president or governor, but they play an important role in the justice system.
A district-court magistrate is a type of judicial officer with limited jurisdiction and authority, often on the local level and restricted to criminal cases. They are responsible for conducting preliminary criminal hearings and may order that a defendant be released for lack of evidence, sent to jail to await trial, or released on bail. In some states, they are given the power to set bail, accept bond, accept guilty pleas, impose sentences for traffic violations and similar offenses, and conduct informal hearings on civil infractions.
These examples illustrate the different types of magistrates and their specific roles and responsibilities within the judicial system. They are appointed to handle cases that do not require the attention of higher courts and are responsible for ensuring that justice is served in a fair and impartial manner.