police court

n. An inferior court having the power to hear the trial of minor criminal offenses and violations of local ordinances.

police court

n 1. (Law) another name for magistrates' court 2. (Law) (in Scotland, formerly) a burgh court with limited jurisdiction, presided over by lay magistrates or a stipendiary magistrate: replaced in 1975 by the district court. See also district court

police′ court`

n. an inferior court empowered to try persons accused of minor offenses and to hold those charged with more serious crimes for trial in superior court. [1815–25]

Thesaurus

Noun

police court - a court that has power to prosecute for minor offenses and to bind over for trial in a superior court anyone accused of serious offensescourt, judicature, tribunal - an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial businesslaw, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"

police court

police court,

court with jurisdiction limited to minor offenses, chiefly the least grave misdemeanorsmisdemeanor,
in law, a minor crime, in contrast to a felony. At common law a misdemeanor was a crime other than treason or a felony. Although it might be a grave offense, it did not affect the feudal bond or take away the offender's property. By the 19th cent.
..... Click the link for more information. and breaches of municipal ordinances. In practice the trial is usually held before a judge sitting without a jury. A police court may also examine persons accused of felonyfelony
, any grave crime, in contrast to a misdemeanor, that is so declared in statute or was so considered in common law. In early English law a felony was a heinous act that canceled the perpetrator's feudal rights and forfeited his lands and goods to the king, thus depriving
..... Click the link for more information. and commit them to jail pending indictmentindictment
, in criminal law, formal written accusation naming specific persons and crimes. Persons suspected of crime may be rendered liable to trial by indictment, by presentment, or by information.
..... Click the link for more information. and trial or release them on reasonable bailbail,
in law, procurement of release from prison of a person awaiting trial or an appeal, by the deposit of security to insure his submission at the required time to legal authority.
..... Click the link for more information. . Magistrate's court, justice's court, and municipal court are other names for the police court.

police court

n. in some states a type of municipal court which handles misdemeanors (minor crimes), and traffic violations, as well as conducting arraignments (first appearances) and preliminary hearings of those accused of felonies to decide if there is cause to send the defendant to a higher court for trial. Police courts only handle criminal cases unlike those municipal courts which also have jurisdiction over some civil cases. (See: municipal court, arraignment, preliminary hearing)

police court

police court

police court

police′ court`

police court

police court,

police court

police court

police court

Words related to police court

noun a court that has power to prosecute for minor offenses and to bind over for trial in a superior court anyone accused of serious offenses

Related Words