Which of the following is a duty of every magistrate?

• A. Issue search warrants
• B. Preside over all trials
• C. Enforce judgments
• D. Cause the arrest of offenders

Answer: (D)

Magistrates have a gatekeeping role in the criminal process, and a core duty is to enable the arrest of offenders. When there is probable cause, a magistrate directs or authorizes law enforcement to take someone into custody, which brings the suspect before the court for charges and further proceedings. This arrest-initiating function is fundamental and ongoing, ensuring the case can move forward through the judicial system. While magistrates may issue warrants to assist in arrests or searches, those powers support the arrest process rather than replacing the essential duty to cause arrest. Presiding over all trials is typically handled by judges in many courts, and enforcing judgments is carried out by the judiciary and law enforcement after a ruling, not as a universal magistrate duty.