Which statement is true regarding Emergency Protective Orders?

• A. Only justices of the peace may conduct peace and bond hearings.
• B. Presiding judges have authority to administer the oath to someone swearing to a complaint, associate judges do not.
• C. Municipal court clerks may give magistrate warnings after a defendant is arrested when the municipal judge is not available.
• D. Municipal judges, acting as magistrates, may issue Emergency Protective Orders for an offense involving family violence.

Answer: (D)

Emergency Protective Orders are temporary protective orders issued by a judicial officer with authority to act as a magistrate to protect someone from family violence when immediate action is needed. Municipal judges who serve as magistrates have that authority, so they can issue an EPO for offenses involving family violence to ensure the victim’s safety right away, even before a full hearing.

The other statements don’t fit because they either limit who can conduct peace and bond hearings or assign duties (like administering oaths or issuing warnings) to officials who don’t have that specific jurisdiction or role in issuing EPOs. The key idea is that the power to issue Emergency Protective Orders in family violence cases rests with magistrates, including municipal judges acting in that capacity.