Magistrate facts for kids
A magistrate is a special kind of officer who works in a court. Their job is to help make sure laws are followed and to make decisions about legal matters. The exact role of a magistrate can be different depending on the country.
Contents
What is a Magistrate?
A magistrate is a person who works in a court of law. They listen to different cases and make decisions based on the law. Their main goal is to make sure justice is served.
Magistrates in History
The idea of a magistrate has been around for a very long time. Their duties have changed quite a bit over the centuries.
Ancient Rome
In ancient Rome, a magistratus was a very important government official. They were among the highest-ranking people in charge. These Roman magistrates had two main types of power:
- Judicial power: This meant they could make decisions in legal cases, much like a judge.
- Executive power: This meant they could carry out laws and manage parts of the government.
Magistrates in China
In some parts of the world, like China in the past, a magistrate had a different role. They were in charge of managing a specific area, like a city or a region. They handled the day-to-day running of that place and made sure things were organized.
Modern Magistrates
Today, the role of a magistrate is mostly focused on legal matters in courts.
What do they do?
In many countries today, a magistrate is a judicial officer. This means they are like a judge, but they usually work in lower courts. They often handle:
- Smaller legal cases.
- The first steps of bigger cases.
- Less serious legal problems.
Examples in England and Wales
In England and Wales, there are two main types of magistrates:
- Justices of the peace: These are often volunteers from the community who hear cases.
- District judges: These are trained lawyers who are paid for their work as magistrates.
See also
In Spanish: Magistrado para niños
