(in England and Wales) a court presided over by a magistrate or magistrates that deals with minor offences and holds preliminary hearings for more serious ones.
the case got as far as the magistrates' court
Westminster Magistrates' Court
Example sentencesExamples
- Bills are before Parliament which would allow "paper committals," so that witnesses do not have to give lengthy testimony in the magistrates' courts.
- The hearing at Bow Street Magistrates' Court is expected to last three days.
- She pleaded guilty to the these offences at Stratford Magistrates' Court and was sentenced to an 18 month community rehabilitation order.
- He is expected to appear in Cairns Magistrates' Court on Nov.28.
- The matter will remain to be dealt with by the magistrates' court.
- Anyone caught without a licence faces a visit to a magistrates' court and a £1000 fine.
- There is a program in New South Wales now to have liaison people at magistrates' courts to help defendants.
- The IT programme will provide updated computer systems and equipment to magistrates' courts throughout England and Wales.
- In 1878, the magistrates' courts were given jurisdiction to grant a separation order where a husband had been convicted of assault of his wife, and to order him to pay her maintenance.
- The Appellant was not present in the Magistrates' Court when she was convicted.