Magistrate jobs include a variety of responsibilities, and most allow magistrates to act as judges and preside over court proceedings. Other magistrate jobs entail determining bond amounts for people who have been charged with crimes. Being a magistrate is a full-time job in some areas, but part-time jobs are available in others. In many cases, regional officials appoint magistrates.
When a magistrate serves as a judge, he or she is in charge of the lower courts. Minor criminal cases are heard by the magistrate in this court. He or she may also be in charge of referring cases to a higher court if sufficient evidence is presented. In some parts of the world, a magistrate works full-time during the week and sits on the magistrate bench on weekends and evenings.
The education and training needed to become a presiding magistrate differs by region. Magistrates are required to have extensive training and legal certifications in some areas. In other areas, only a minimal amount of training is required.
The magistrate has the authority to make decisions and pass judgments regarding the case and the defendant’s fate while presiding. Magistrates have the power to impose fines and incarcerate defendants. Lawyers frequently present the case of a defendant to a magistrate.
The jurisdiction of a magistrate is usually limited to minor offenses like shoplifting, public intoxication, and traffic tickets. In some areas, a magistrate can also hear cases of assault or burglary. Before the case is finished, the defendant may appear before the magistrate several times. The defendant appears before the magistrate right away to declare his or her plea. The magistrate will then hold another hearing to hear the case and render a decision.
Civil cases can also be presided over by magistrates. Civil cases that fall under the legal jurisdiction of a magistrate include divorces, adoptions, and lawsuits. The magistrate is typically tasked with dividing assets or determining fault in a civil case.
While most magistrate jobs entail presiding over a hearing, some magistrates are tasked with determining bond amounts for people accused of crimes. In such cases, the magistrate sets the bond amount based on a number of factors, including whether the defendant is a flight risk or a current threat to society. In some areas, a magistrate will set a temporary bond until the accused can appear in court for a bond hearing before a judge.