Editing Magistrate (section)

{{Short description|Officer of the state, usually judge}}
{{About||the musical group|Magistrates (band)|uses of The Magistrate|The Magistrate (disambiguation)}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox occupation
| name= Magistrate
| image= Lyman Poore Duff.jpg
| caption= [[Lyman Duff|Sir Lyman Poore Duff]], a former justice of the [[Supreme Court of Canada]]
| official_names= [[Judge]], [[justice of the peace]], magistrate, judicial magistrate (particular in Germany)
<!------------Details------------------->
| type= Profession
| activity_sector= [[Law]]
| competencies= Analytical mind, critical thinking, impartiality, common sense
| formation= Usually experience as an [[advocate]] (varies by jurisdiction)
| employment_field= [[Court]]s
| related_occupation= [[Barrister]], [[solicitor]], [[prosecutor]]
| average_salary=
}}
The term '''magistrate''' is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In [[ancient Rome]], a ''[[Roman magistrate|magistratus]]'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both [[Judiciary|judicial]] and [[Executive (government)|executive]] powers. In other parts of the world, such as [[China]], magistrate is a word applied to a person responsible for administration over a particular geographic area. Today, in some jurisdictions, a magistrate is a judicial officer who hears cases in a [[lower court]], and typically deals with more minor or preliminary matters. In other jurisdictions (e.g., [[Magistrate (England and Wales)|England and Wales]]), magistrates are typically trained volunteers appointed to deal with criminal and civil matters in their local areas.