In Amer-iean law. A judicial officer of inferior rank holding a court not of record, and having (usually) civil jurisdiction of a limited na-ture, for the trial of minor cases, to an extent prescribed by statute, and for the conservation of the peace aud tlie preliminary hearing of criminal complaints and the commitment of offenders. See Weuzler v. Peo-ple, 58 N. Y. 530; Com. v. Frank. 21 Pa. Co. CL R. 120; weikel v. Cate, 58 Md. 110