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United States magistrate

United States magistrate definition - legal

n

Appointed by U.S. district court judges, U.S. magistrates are judicial officials with broad powers to conduct pre-trial hearings and conferences in both civil and criminal cases. With consent of the parties, Magistrate Judges may preside over trials in civil cases as well as criminal misdemeanor cases.

Webster's New World Law Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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