Legal Definitions - metropolitan magistrate

A metropolitan magistrate is a type of judicial officer with limited jurisdiction and authority, often on the local level and restricted to criminal cases. They conduct preliminary criminal hearings and may order that a defendant be released for lack of evidence, sent to jail to await trial, or released on bail.

• Police Magistrate: A judicial officer who has jurisdiction to try minor criminal offenses, breaches of police regulations, and similar violations.
• Stipendiary Magistrate: A salaried magistrate that performs either in the place of or along with Justices of the Peace, and is appointed from barristers and solicitors of seven years' standing.
• Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate: A stipendiary magistrate with jurisdiction in inner London areas.

These examples illustrate the different types of magistrates and their specific roles and jurisdictions. For instance, a police magistrate has the authority to try minor criminal offenses, while a stipendiary magistrate is a salaried magistrate that performs in the place of or along with Justices of the Peace. A metropolitan stipendiary magistrate has jurisdiction in inner London areas.