Opinion ID: 1917909
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 20

Heading: 120. committing magistrate.

Text: Each state and county judge is a committing magistrate and may issue a summons to, or a warrant for the arrest of, a person against whom a complaint is made in writing and sworn to before a person authorized to administer oaths, when the complaint states facts which show that such person violated a criminal law of this State within the jurisdiction of the magistrate to whom the complaint is presented. The magistrate may take testimony under oath to determine if there is reasonable ground to believe the complaint is true. The magistrate may commit the offender to jail, may order the defendant to appear before the proper court to answer the charge in the complaint, or may discharge him from custody or from any undertaking to appear. The magistrate may authorize the clerk to issue a summons. Committee Note : Substantially same as former rule. Altered to incorporate the provision for testimony under oath formerly contained in Rule 3.121(a), and authorizes the execution of the affidavit before a notary or other persons authorized to administer oaths.