Magistrates act as judges and preside over court proceedings, and may also set bond values for those charged with crimes. They have jurisdiction over minor criminal cases and civil proceedings, and may require varying levels of training. Some magistrates also establish bonds for accused individuals.
Magistrates’ jobs incorporate different tasks and generally allow magistrates to act as judges and preside over court proceedings. Other magistrate jobs require the magistrate to set bond values for people who have been charged with crimes. In some regions, being a magistrate is a full-time job, while in other regions magistrates are part-time. In many cases, magistrates are appointed by regional officials.
When a magistrate acts as a judge, it means presiding over the lower courts. It is in this court that the magistrate hears minor criminal cases. He or she may also be responsible for referring cases to a higher court if sufficient evidence is presented to justify doing so. In some areas of the world, a magistrate holds a full-time job while sitting on the magistrate’s bench during evenings and weekends.
The training required to become a presiding magistrate varies by region. In some areas, magistrates must have extensive training and legal certifications. In other areas, very little training is needed.
While presiding, the magistrate has the right to make decisions and pass sentences on the case and the fate of the defendant. Magistrates can fix fees and imprison defendants. Lawyers often present a defendant’s case to the magistrate.
A magistrate’s jurisdiction is generally limited to simple offenses such as shoplifting, public intoxication, and traffic tickets. In some regions, the magistrate may also hear cases of assault or theft. The defendant may appear before the magistrate several times before the case is concluded. The defendant sees the magistrate immediately to announce how he will appeal. Then, another hearing is scheduled for the magistrate to hear the case and judge.
Magistrates may also preside over civil cases. Divorces, adoptions, and lawsuits are examples of civil proceedings under the legal jurisdiction of a magistrate’s job. During a civil case, the magistrate is usually charged with dividing assets or finding fault with a lawsuit.
While most magistrate jobs involve presiding over a hearing, some are charged with establishing bonds for people who have been accused of committing a crime. In these cases, the magistrate determines the amount of bond based on many factors, including whether the accused is a flight risk or a current danger to society. In some regions, the magistrate establishes a temporary bond until the accused can enter a courtroom for a hearing by a judge.
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