In Georgia, each county has a chief magistrate, elected by the voters of the county, who has the authority to hold preliminary hearings in criminal cases, conduct bench trials for certain misdemeanor offenses, including deposit account fraud (bad checks), grant bail (except as to very serious felony charges), and preside over a small claims court for cases where the amount in controversy does not exceed $15,000.
Under Kentucky's first constitution, Fiscal Courts were in charge of all judicial and legislative powers of a county.
[4] In criminal cases, a magistrate may issue warrants, set bail, accept guilty pleas, and so forth.
They serve alone in districts apportioned by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and exercise statewide jurisdiction, with limitations.
They conduct criminal arraignments and preliminary hearings, issue arrest warrants and search warrants in some cases, hear civil disputes involving $12,000 or less, landlord-tenant disputes (except matters involving title to real estate), issue temporary Protection from Abuse Act orders, decide traffic, game law, and fish and boat code cases, conduct marriages, and administer oaths and affirmations.
In South Carolina, magistrates are appointed to four-year terms by the Governor upon the advice and consent of the Senate.
[8] However, according to a previous governor of South Carolina, state senators largely control the process.
They preside over civil and criminal cases, issue restraining orders, search and arrest warrants and conduct bond hearings (except as to a limited number of the most serious offenses such as murder), preliminary hearings, bench and jury trials.