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• magistrate's court
  magistrate's court

  noun

  a court having limited jurisdiction over minor civil and criminal matters, as matters of contract not exceeding a particular amount of money.
• magistrates' court
  magistrates' court

  noun

  (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

magistrate's court

American  

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.

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magistrates' court British  

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

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Etymology

Origin of magistrate's court

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

At Enniskillen Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, a solicitor said that Rutledge "cannot be sentenced as though he were responsible for the deaths" of his daughter-in-law and "adored" grandchildren.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later today.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

Mahad Mohammed, 19, and two 17-year-old boys who cannot be named because of their age, appeared at Coventry Magistrates' Court last month and have been remanded in custody.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

The 66-year-old appeared before Lisburn Magistrates' Court on 2 May when his defence solicitor argued that there was insufficient evidence at this time to link him to most of the charges.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

As soon as John Wilkes had finished his breakfast he went with Captain Dave and Cyril to the Magistrates' Court at the Guildhall.

From When London Burned : a Story of Restoration Times and the Great Fire by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)