What is the difference between a judge and a magistrate?

A judge and a magistrate are two different roles in the court system in Virginia. A judge is a person authorized to hear and decide cases in a court of law; in Virginia a judge is usually appointed by the governor or elected by the people. A judge has the authority to interpret law and decide the outcome of a court case. On the other hand, a magistrate is an officer who has the authority to conduct government proceedings, take evidence, issue arrest warrants, and review evidence and decide if someone should be charged with a crime. In Virginia, a magistrate can be appointed by a judge or elected by the people. In Virginia, the judge is the ultimate decision maker in a court case. The judge has the power to determine the facts of the case and to make rulings on the applicable laws. In some cases, the judge may refer the case to a magistrate who can review all the evidence and make a ruling. The magistrate can then make an official recommendation to the judge regarding the outcome of the case. The judge takes the recommendation into consideration but ultimately has the power to make the final ruling. In summary, the main difference between a judge and a magistrate is the authority to make final decisions. A judge has the authority to interpret the law and make the final ruling on a court case, whereas a magistrate only has the authority to review evidence and make recommendations to the judge about the outcome of a case.

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