magistrate's court

noun

1. a court having limited jurisdiction over minor civil and criminal matters, as matters of contract not exceeding a particular amount of money.
2. police court.

magistrates' court

noun

1. (in England) a court of summary jurisdiction held before two or more justices of the peace or a stipendiary magistrate to deal with minor crimes, certain civil actions, and preliminary hearings

Word History and Origins

Origin of magistrate's court¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

When he first appeared at Newry Magistrate’s Court in July 2019 he was just 21, with long, fuzzy hair and the wide-eyed look of someone surprised to be sitting where he was.

From BBC

The consultation suggests that if a magistrate's court orders that someone be quarantined and they leave quarantine then a police officer may take them into custody and return them to where they were supposed to be quarantined.

From BBC

Outside the Dodoma Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday, the men's defence lawyer, Godfrey Wasonga, said they were dissatisfied with the ruling, claiming that some legal provisions had been violated.

From BBC

He is set to be formally charged at Kempton Park Magistrate's Court later on Friday.

From BBC

The four first appeared in the local magistrate's court on 7 March on charges of human trafficking and kidnapping.

From BBC