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magistrate

mag·is·trate [ májji stràyt, májjistrət ] (plural mag·is·trates)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. lower court judge: a judge in a lower court whose jurisdiction is limited to the trial of misdemeanors and the conduct of preliminary hearings on more serious charges

2. local law officer: a minor law officer or member of a local judiciary with extremely limited powers, e.g. a justice of the peace who deals with traffic violations

[14th century. < Latin magistratus< magister "master"]

mag·is·trate·ship noun
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