Resident Magistrate

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A Resident Magistrate is a title for Magistrates used in certain parts of the world, that were, or are, governed by the British. Sometimes abbreviated as RM, it refers to suitably qualified personnel -notably well versed in the law- who are brought into an area from outside to be the local magistrate there, typically to be the guiding hand amongst other lay magistrates.

In colonial history, Resident magistrates have had gubernatorial functions in a few minor, isolated colonial settlements, such as:

Ascension, as dependency of Saint Helena; post filled by managers of Eastern Telegraph/Cable and Wireless since 1922 (previously under a Commanding Officer), replaced since June 1964 by an Administrator
Walvisbaai, only two incumbents shortly after the 12 March 1878 annexed by Britain as Walvis Bay protectorate, first under a Captain; annexation confirmed 14 December 1878:
- 1 June 1878 - November 1880 D. Erskine
- November 1880 - 7 August 1884 Benjamin Musgrave, staying on as Magistrate

Strictly jurisdictional Resident Magistrates still exist in Jamaica and in Northern Ireland, the latter being a continuation of the use of RMs in Ireland before 1922, as popularised by the book and sitcom "The Irish RM".

[edit] Deputy magistrate

When the Caprivi Strip (formerly German Barotse- or Zambezi-land; in present Namibia) which had been administered by British Military Administrators since 21 September 1914 was formally placed under the administration of the British High Commissioners for Southern Africa, the last Military Administrator stayed on as the first of only two Deputy magistrates, the highest British colonial official actually in the Strip: