Which statement is true about municipal judges and their status as magistrates?

• A. Municipal judges are magistrates.
• B. Municipal court clerks may stamp the judge's signature on mental health commitments when the judge is not available and it is an emergency.
• C. When a judge is not available, the clerk may grant deferred disposition or Teen Court.
• D. Municipal court clerks have the authority to issue a capias.

Answer: (A)

A municipal judge is considered a magistrate because a magistrate is a judicial official authorized to perform certain pretrial and magistration duties, such as handling initial appearances, issuing warrants, and other preliminary matters. Municipal judges preside over the municipal court and carry magistration functions as needed, so they are classified as magistrates. The other statements misstate clerks’ authority: clerks do not sign or stamp mental health commitments in place of a judge, they do not grant deferred dispositions or Teen Court, and they cannot issue capias writs. These powers belong to a judge or a designated magistrate.