What is the difference between a judge and a magistrate?

The main difference between a judge and a magistrate is the role each one plays in the court system. A judge is a formally appointed or elected official who presides over a court of law. A judge is responsible for hearing evidence, evaluating arguments, deciding a case, and giving a verdict. Judges may also perform other related court duties, such as issuing search warrants. Judges are appointed or elected in Maryland at the county, circuit, and/or appellate levels. A magistrate, on the other hand, is a court officer who presides over the preliminary stages of legal proceedings. They are not formally appointed or elected, and usually serve on a voluntary basis. Magistrates are usually responsible for hearing initial complaints and issuing certain court orders, such as arrest warrants and search warrants. Magistrates can also hear preliminary motions and decide certain matters without a full trial. Magistrates in Maryland are appointed by the court. Generally speaking, judges have more authority and responsibility than magistrates, since they are tasked with making the final decision in a case. Judges also have more formal powers, such as the ability to issue search warrants and order arrests. Magistrates, on the other hand, typically have less authority, since they are only involved in the initial stages of a legal proceeding. In some jurisdictions, judges and magistrates may work together in the same court, though the judge will always have final say on all matters.

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What is the difference between a judge and a magistrate?

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