Interesting that a major distinction between the roles of Magistrates and Judge ie the fact that Magistrates (other than Stipendary Magistrates are not legally qualified is only mentioned by a couple of respondents.
Magistrate
A judicial officer who sits at a magistrates’ court and has authority for enforcing and administering the law regarding less serious criminal offences. Magistrates typically sit in panels of three, work on a voluntary basis, and do not have any formal legal qualifications. Stipendiary magistrates are legally-qualified, sit on their own, and receive a salary. All cases are first seen at the magistrates whether they end up being decided there are sent immediately to a higher court.
Explanation attempts (144)
- 28 Oct 2012 21:51
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the presiding judge or part of a panel of judges making decisions of guilt or innocence in minor court cases and passing sentences in these minor cases
- 29 Oct 2012 14:48
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a magistrate is the presiding official at the lower courts in the land, or magustrates court. They are generally volunteers who wish to serve the comunity and would deal with low tariff crimes such as petty theft or minor acts of violence. They are charged with deciding the innocence or guilt of the suspect, or where there is doubt, he or she may refer the case to the crown court. They will also decide the sentences for the minor cases they handle.
- 29 Oct 2012 15:43
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A court official responsible for deciding minor cases/passing serious cases onto criminal courts (much like a judge but someone who hasn't had legal training). Often aided/advised by a clerk of the court (who has had legal training).
- 29 Oct 2012 16:52
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Someone who deals with minor offensives.
- 29 Oct 2012 17:17
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Like a judge
- 29 Oct 2012 17:17
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a judge
- 29 Oct 2012 21:29
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Someone who sits in a magistrates court hearing evidence in respect of criminal /matrimonial / child care proceedings advised by the clerk to the court when making sentence. There are sually three people who are members of the public who sit on the bench.
- 30 Oct 2012 12:54
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oversees the processes of the law. Kind of like a judge, checks proceedings are run correctly and that law is applied properly
- 30 Oct 2012 16:12
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Someone official
- 30 Oct 2012 16:48
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A type of lawyer who works in a court of law
- 30 Oct 2012 20:46
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The individual heading the courtroom. I believe that some cases are held with a Magistrate rather than a Judge.
- 31 Oct 2012 12:36
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No idea
- 31 Oct 2012 12:58
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A senior member of the courts. Above a lawyer but below a judge.
- 31 Oct 2012 13:14
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The person who listens to a case & decides on sentence, in cases where a jury is not required
- 31 Oct 2012 14:03
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A judge in a small claims court
- 31 Oct 2012 14:59
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Magistrate people who decide what sentences people get
- 31 Oct 2012 15:42
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someone in court who can put laws into place, justice of the peace.
- 31 Oct 2012 18:28
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Justice of the peace - chosen member if the public with little formal legal training allowed to dispense judgement in cases of petty crime eg drunk driving, public proprty offences etc
- 31 Oct 2012 18:30
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A person who provides order in court. Is the mediator between the defence and prosecution.
- 31 Oct 2012 19:16
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a layperson who presides over proceedings in a court of law
- 31 Oct 2012 19:23
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This is a person who makes decisions in court cases that are less serious cases. They may be a lay person without a legal qualification
- 31 Oct 2012 21:13
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Legal authority with power to implement legal legislation and carry out sentences through jury and judge.
- 1 Nov 2012 13:14
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A person who presides over a magistrates court which tries minot offences - the equivalent of a judge in crown court. The magistate passes sentence at the end of a court hearing.
- 1 Nov 2012 21:28
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The decision maker / judge within a magistrates court. The magistrate has a certain level of understanding of the law.
- 1 Nov 2012 22:30
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A magistrate is a law official who hears the evidence that an individual may have committed a crime. The prosecution and defence lawyer present their case and the magistrate decides the punishment. This is for less serious crimes only and no jury is present
- 20 Nov 2012 22:57
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A top (head?) Judge, who presides over court cases, as in "The Magistrate's Court"
- 21 Nov 2012 05:08
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This is the first stage within the court process. A magistrate is an unpaid person from within the community who hears cases and decides what should happen with the case (should it be dismissed, prosecuted or heard at a higher level).
- 21 Nov 2012 06:13
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A senior judge, who wears a reed gown and presides over a particular court.
- 21 Nov 2012 15:59
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A person who presides over a court or is part of a panel not always legally qualified
- 21 Nov 2012 16:35
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A local, low level court
- 21 Nov 2012 16:50
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Someone who considers matters of law not requiring the participation of a full jury, for minor offences etc.
- 21 Nov 2012 21:33
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Someone who is not a judge but who deals with certain kinds of simple criminal cases a bit like a judge would.
- 21 Nov 2012 21:48
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Person who chairs/heads a local court for more minor offences
- 26 Nov 2012 18:09
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Presides in an ordinary court, not a Crown court. There is usaully more than one magistrate.
- 24 Apr 2013 15:48
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The Judge
- 26 Apr 2013 09:18
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A Magistrate is someone appointed by the Crown on behalf of the community to listen to the case of an individual/individuals and, along with his or her colleagues on the bench, to decide the outcome of cases that are not serious criminal cases. So he/she will not be making decisions about murder or rape, for example, but rather considering traffic offences, theft etc.
- 11 Nov 2013 19:37
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someone who sits in a small local court (a magistrate's court) and makes decisions over cases brought to court
- 12 Nov 2013 09:25
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an officer within legal system
- 12 Nov 2013 09:25
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Most people know this to be the judge or the one who passes conviction. Highest authority in the room.
- 12 Nov 2013 09:48
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A Magistrate takes charge of dealing with more minor offenses and breaches of the law. A magistrates court is where these legal hearings take place. Actual true definitions and origins of the word I do not know.
- 13 Nov 2013 13:49
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dont know
- 14 Nov 2013 21:13
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A person representing the legal process and acting on behalf of the realm in serving sentence on those that have been judged to have been involved in wrong doing. Operates from a Court of Law
- 14 Nov 2013 21:13
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A type of court.
- 14 Nov 2013 21:34
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Someone who has legal powers under the law
- 14 Nov 2013 21:36
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a type of lawyer representing the state
- 14 Nov 2013 22:15
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A person who presides in a low level crime case in a local court not crown court
- 15 Nov 2013 09:18
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The type of court you are in.
- 15 Nov 2013 19:43
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somebody who judges cases in court
- 15 Nov 2013 22:48
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Court official who will listen to evidence & pass a sentence for minor criminal offence
- 16 Nov 2013 00:12
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Someone that gives the final verdict.
- 16 Nov 2013 10:20
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The court before you go to the main court.
- 16 Nov 2013 14:52
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no idea
- 16 Nov 2013 17:08
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Someone in court who deals with minor offences, like a lawyer
- 16 Nov 2013 18:28
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head of a civil court who can sentence defendants.
- 16 Nov 2013 20:30
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A magistrate is an official who administers/hears cases, grievances and crimes. Has the power to give a verdict without jury.
- 16 Nov 2013 21:25
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The Magistrate is simply the person who resides over the Magistrates Court.
- 16 Nov 2013 22:43
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A judge in court
- 17 Nov 2013 11:50
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Usually an unpaid lay person who oversees legal cases in a first tier court
- 17 Nov 2013 17:20
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somebody who works in the courtroom, and deals with less serious crimes e.g. magistrates court
- 17 Nov 2013 17:24
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A type of court, for 'everyday' cases.
- 17 Nov 2013 19:22
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Magistrate is the judge in charge of the magistrate court responsible for dealing with petite-crimes. It is one step lower from the Crown court
- 17 Nov 2013 19:42
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A person involved in local law enforcement, as opposed to national cases. Deals with cases such as drunk and disorderlies or speeding.
- 17 Nov 2013 19:57
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someone high up who enforces the law
- 17 Nov 2013 20:10
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A level in the hierarchy of the legal system, functioning in the Magistrates court.
- 17 Nov 2013 21:46
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a type of court
- 17 Nov 2013 23:21
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magistrate is employed in the court
- 18 Nov 2013 12:32
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A typw of judge who administers the law and gives sentencing
- 18 Nov 2013 17:19
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Some form of law enforcer.
- 18 Nov 2013 18:33
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A magistrate is the person who hears all the evidence and after you are convicted by a jury, decides what your punishment should be for your crime
- 18 Nov 2013 19:24
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A lay person acting as a judge. A person who acts as a judge in minor cases, without a jury
- 18 Nov 2013 19:33
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A person who sits in court.
- 18 Nov 2013 20:00
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Somebody who acts as the 'judge' in a civil court and listens to the case and eventually passes the sentence on the defendant
- 19 Nov 2013 00:59
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A magistrate is someone who presides in small court cases which are not heard in crown courts.
- 19 Nov 2013 11:59
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Somebody who hears cases in a non-criminal court and can pass sentence.
- 19 Nov 2013 23:24
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a judge type person
- 29 Oct 2014 15:38
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A court where a criminal would go and face a jury to see if they're guilty
- 30 Oct 2014 16:28
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Unpaid member of the public who volunteers to work in a magistrates court acting like a judge. Usually for more minor crimes.
- 4 Nov 2014 19:43
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Magistrates work as part of the legal system at a Magistrate's court, before cases are passed on to the Crown Courts. They function as judges to the court process at the Magistrate's court.
- 5 Nov 2014 16:30
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The judge that decides on the ruling and sentence of a case
- 9 Nov 2014 12:14
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A magistrate is a type of judge. Magistrates courts are where most criminal law cases begin.
- 9 Nov 2014 15:28
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A magistrate is a member of the justice system that works in the courts, working with people convicted of a crime.
- 11 Nov 2014 12:05
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The person who governs & controls the court proceedings , whose decision is final in court unless appealed down the appropriate route
- 8 Dec 2014 09:45
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A person employed within the legal system in court. I believe they hold a senior role and it may refer to the different levels of judges that you get at national level courts.
- 28 Oct 2015 22:24
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The legal representative of the law in a court of law when the case doesn't need a judge and jury. Less serious crimes.
- 6 Nov 2015 21:03
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A type of court. A person who sits in the magistrate's court and listens to a case then comes to a conclusion regarding the case.
- 9 Nov 2015 23:32
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The person whom proceeds over a magistrates court
- 10 Nov 2015 13:08
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A person who presides over a County Court, rather like a judge, but has no qualifications.
- 16 Nov 2015 20:00
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A magistrate is a person who listens to legal cases in court.
- 18 Nov 2015 20:51
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One of those wig guys
- 22 Nov 2015 16:09
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Person that hears the evidence in court
- 22 Nov 2015 16:23
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Somebody that oversees a court case in the magistrates court
- 23 Nov 2015 00:36
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A magistrate is someone in court who defines whether or not a person has done the crime. But not quite the same as a judge.
- 24 Nov 2015 09:39
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The person who is the head of the court process and issues out the sentence.
- 15 Jul 2016 13:59
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legal officer entrusted to carry out legal proceedings as a court officer.
- 8 Nov 2016 14:49
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The judge in the court who would give the verdict of guilty of innocent
- 8 Nov 2016 20:17
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A type of court and someone who stands up in court to ensure things happen in the way they should do.
- 8 Nov 2016 23:03
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An unpaid 'judge' usually members of public who sit and hear cases at magistrate courts. They are not lawyers but are advised by clerks of the court on points of law. They can sentence on 'lesser' cases. More serious cases are referred to the Crown Court.
- 9 Nov 2016 01:44
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A magistrate is a position held by someone or a court itself within the judicial system.
- 9 Nov 2016 08:51
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A person in court who makes the decision as to whether to charge or not
- 9 Nov 2016 21:24
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Someone who judges you in a small claims court
- 9 Nov 2016 21:27
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Person who sits in a magistrates court
- 10 Nov 2016 12:24
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To do with judges like the Supreme Court. It's official and legal eye of the law
- 11 Nov 2016 18:38
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Court leader
- 12 Nov 2016 11:33
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A person in the judiciary system that is in charge of a court
- 14 Nov 2016 19:08
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A type of judge at a low level court
- 14 Nov 2016 22:19
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Someone in a legal professional office
- 14 Nov 2016 22:20
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A type of court
- 5 Nov 2017 17:06
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someone who conducts a court for minor offences
- 7 Nov 2017 20:24
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Someone in the legal system who you would find in a court room.
- 12 Nov 2017 17:55
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A judge within a court.
- 12 Nov 2017 19:48
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Is a lay person that has been appointed to sit on the bench in the magistrates court also referred to as justice of the peace.
- 13 Nov 2017 13:11
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A law abiding person who works in a court room
- 16 Nov 2023 18:13
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A lay person with appropriate training who hears less serious criminal charges (not referred to crown court) Magistrates hear cases with others, I think 3
- 16 Nov 2023 20:50
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unpaid or volunteer role within the court, sitting alongside judges
- 18 Nov 2023 12:38
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Maybe like a judge/ person at the top of the court room?
- 18 Nov 2023 12:44
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an officer in the the courtroom in charge of the precedings
- 19 Nov 2023 18:45
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Means the crime that you’re accused of may not be that Deemed that serious. But still not great as they tend to convict more
- 20 Nov 2023 11:35
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Someone that works in family Court
- 21 Nov 2023 12:39
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The group or the net of rules combined by a group to set laws in place?
- 21 Nov 2023 14:05
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The people in charge of the courts
- 21 Nov 2023 16:23
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The people that decide punishment for breaking the law
- 21 Nov 2023 17:08
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Someone who makes decisions in a court of law
- 21 Nov 2023 20:52
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Someone who works in a court
- 22 Nov 2023 00:35
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The court leaders
- 23 Nov 2023 12:21
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a type of courtroom that deals with less serious crime
- 16 Oct 2024 10:19
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An occupation in which someone administers the law in court
- 20 Oct 2024 20:16
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A type of court.
- 20 Oct 2024 21:50
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They preside over cases heard in magistrates court. There is no jury and they hear less serious crimes. They have training but are volunteers and do not have formal Law qualifications.
- 21 Oct 2024 11:20
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The person helping the judge normally accompanied by two other magistrates.
- 21 Oct 2024 11:53
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Someone who is in court and has a high position in court cases
- 21 Oct 2024 13:02
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Somebody who listens to evidence and statements in regards to an alleged crime and makes a decision on what the punishment should be. Similar to a judge, but I don't understand the difference
- 21 Oct 2024 14:59
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an individual who plays down the law
- 21 Oct 2024 21:10
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A single or group of people who inflict the law.
- 22 Oct 2024 17:38
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The magistrate is the judge. The person who presides over court proceedings.
- 22 Oct 2024 21:15
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A form of community judge in a less formal court below crown court
- 22 Oct 2024 21:45
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one of a board of people in charge of making decisons of a maistrates court
- 23 Oct 2024 16:07
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an officer in charge who hears cases and gives the ultimate verdict
- 24 Oct 2024 08:40
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A civil servant.
- 5 Nov 2024 18:32
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Someone in a court lower than a Crown Court who is not legally qualified - maybe with a business or professional background - who decides sentencing. It is the level below Trial by Jury which is lead by a qualified lawyer as Judge.
- 9 Nov 2024 11:28
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Over seeing the coury
- 13 Nov 2024 18:16
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The court in charge of punishing
- 13 Nov 2024 21:40
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A person who can pass legal judgement in a local court of law or refer a legal case to a higher level of judgment
- 20 Nov 2024 14:58
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A magistrate presides over a civil court proceeding.
- 20 Nov 2024 19:22
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The body of those involved with the law