Beware, this is a classic potential “faux ami” for legal translators!

The French word “magistrat” corresponds to a particular type of judge (see below) and should never be translated by the English word “magistrate”, who, with the exception of “stipendiary magistrates” have no legal qualifications and receive no remuneration for their work. They are known as “Justices of the Peace” (JP’s). Compare the definitions.

There are circuit judges, district judges, puisne judges… they come in all shapes and sizes. The only useful equivalent for your purposes is “judge”.

1-http://www.justice.gouv.fr/motscles/mcm1.htm

Magistrats du ministère public (parquet).

Désigne :
- auprès des tribunaux de grande instance : le procureur de la République et ses substituts ;
- et, auprès de la cour d'appel : le procureur général, les avocats généraux et les substituts du procureur général.

En matière pénale, ils sont destinataires des plaintes, signalements, dénonciations, ils déclenchent l'action publique, décident de mettre en œuvre les poursuites pénales, ils dirigent l'activité des gendarmes et des policiers lorsque ceux-ci exercent des fonctions d'officier de police judiciaire et réclament l'application de la loi devant les juridictions. Ils interviennent aussi en matière civile, dans certains cas prévus par la loi, par exemple en matière d'état des personnes (tutelle, filiation, adoption…), de protection des mineurs, liquidation de biens, contrôle de l'état civil et des officiers publics et ministériels.


2-http://www.justice.gouv.fr/motscles/mcm15.htm

Ministère public (parquet).

Ensemble des magistrats établis "près" les cours et tribunaux de l'ordre judiciaire, chargés de représenter les intérêts de la société et de veiller au respect de l'ordre public et à l'application de la loi.


3-http://www.justice.gouv.fr/motscles/mcp2.htm

Parquet (ministère public).

Se dit du service de la cour d'appel dirigé par le procureur général ou du service du tribunal de grande instance dirigé par le procureur de la République.

Par extension, c'est l'ensemble des magistrats chargés de réclamer l'application de la loi au nom de la société.


4-http://www.xrefer.com/entry.jsp?xrefid=466183&secid=.-&hh=1

Magistrate.

A justice of the peace sitting in a magistrates' court. Most magistrates are lay persons and have no formal legal qualifications: they receive no payment for their services but give their time voluntarily. There are also, however, stipendiary magistrates in London and other major cities.

(A Dictionary of Law, OUP).


5-http://www.xrefer.com/entry.jsp?xrefid=465963&secid=.-&hh=1

Judge.

A state official with power to adjudicate on disputes and other matters brought before the courts for decision. In English law all judges are appointed by the Crown, on the advice of the Lord Chancellor in the case of circuit judges and High Court puisne judges and on the advice of the Prime Minister in the case of judges of the Court of Appeal and the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary. All judges are experienced legal practitioners, mostly barristers, but solicitors can be appointed if they possess the relevant advocacy qualification. The independence of the higher judiciary is ensured by the principle that they hold office during good behaviour and not at the pleasure of the Crown (with the exception of the Lord Chancellor). They can only be removed from office by a resolution of both Houses of Parliament assented to by the Queen. Their salaries are a charge on the Consolidated Fund and are not voted annually. Circuit judges may be removed by the Lord Chancellor for incapacity or misbehaviour. All judicial appointments are pensionable and there is a compulsory retirement age. See also judicial immunity. Compare magistrate.

(A Dictionary of Law, OUP).