Meaning of magistrate In English

• 0 a person who acts as a judge in a law court that deals with crimes that are less serious:

  • He will appear before the magistrates tomorrow.

  • Greenway appeared at Bow Street Magistrates' Court to face seven charges of accepting bribes.

• 1 a judge in a law court who deals with crimes that are not serious

• 2 a judge, often, in the UK, one without legal training, in a law court that deals with crimes that are not serious:

  • appear before/be brought before a magistrate He appeared before a federal magistrate in New Orleans to face charges of accepting bribes.

  • become/appoint a magistrate Every magistrate is appointed to a local criminal justice area.