Next misconception and misapprehension: stipendiary magistrates in both England and Wales, plus OZ, 1. hold or used to hold *non-honorary* posts, so are or were paid and receive(d ) a stipend. Compare Stipendium in German and 2. are *legally qualified* professionals, so do not fall within the category of Schöffenrichter/innen.

Otherwise, as courts of *first instance* on the rough lines of Amts- bzw. Bezirksgerichte, they are not exclusively criminal courts in E&W cf. Sheriff Courts in Scotland or Down Under in OZ or NZ, but can deal with family matters, such as reeling in arrears of child maintenance or divorce almony as well as alcohol licensing applications (Brewster Hearings in E&W, attended by neighbours or the police, both of which groups can object ).

Wohlgemerkt: Federal Circuit Court of Australia heißt meinetwegen weder bundesweit noch flächendeckend.

Friedensgericht in CH: District Court - Friedensrichter : District Judge, rather than Justice of the Peace (crim. only in E&W).