| n. | 1. | A person clothed with power as a public civil officer; a public civil officer invested with the executive government, or some branch of it. |
| Noun | 1. | magistrate - a public official authorized to decide questions bought before a court of justice |
MAGISTRATE, mun. law. A public civil officer, invested with some part of the
legislative, executive, or judicial power given by the constitution. In a
narrower sense this term includes only inferior judicial officers, as
justices of the peace.
2. The president of the United States is the chief magistrate of this
nation; the governors are the chief magistrates of their respective states.
3. It is the duty of all magistrates to exercise the power, vested in
them for the good of the people, according to law, and with zeal and
fidelity. A neglect on the part of a magistrate to exercise the functions of
his office, when required by law, is a misdemeanor. Vide 15 Vin. Ab. 144;
Ayl. Pand. tit. 22; Dig. 30, 16, 57; Merl. Rep. h.t.; 13 Pick. R. 523.
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