magistrate
noun [ C ]
LAW uk/ˈmædʒɪstreɪt/ usa judge, often, in the UK, one without legal training, in a law court that deals with crimes that are not serious:
appear before/be brought before a magistrate He appeared before a federal magistrate in New Orleans to face charges of accepting bribes.
become/appoint a magistrate Every magistrate is appointed to a local criminal justice area.
See also
stipendiary magistrate