A judicial or administrative magistrate . Originally the word was synonymous with “elder,” but was also used to designate an earl, and even a king. In English law . An associate to the chief civil magistrate of a corporate town or city. In American citics. The aldermen are generally a legislative body, having limited judicial powers as a body, as in matters of internal police regulation, laying out and repairing streets, constructing sewers, and the like; though in many cities tliey hold separate courts, and have magisterial powers to a considerable extent Bouvier.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
