municipal court

American  

noun

1. a court whose jurisdiction is confined to a city or municipality, with criminal jurisdiction usually corresponding to that of a police court and civil jurisdiction over small causes.

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Etymology

Origin of municipal court

First recorded in 1820–30

Example Sentences

Gamble’s trial, on a sunny Wednesday in mid-April, had drawn an unusually large crowd of about 80 or so outside the municipal court building.

From Slate • May 4, 2026

The Bangkok municipal court initially handed each of them a six-month sentence on Tuesday but reduced the terms to three months due to their cooperation with authorities.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

Willis cited Wade’s 10 years as a municipal court judge and more than 20 years in private practice, but Wade does not have much prosecutorial experience.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 25, 2024

One of its members was Nathan J. Wade, a lawyer and municipal court judge from the Atlanta suburbs whom she counted as a longtime friend and mentor.

From New York Times • Jan. 20, 2024

Several ran for public office, and there were two superior court justices, one municipal court judge, two members of the California state legislature, and one prominent state official.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell