Which entity issues a summons?

A summons is an official notice that a person is required to appear in court or respond to a legal proceeding. The correct answer indicates that a magistrate is responsible for issuing a summons. This is usually within the context of judicial authority, where a magistrate has the power to oversee preliminary matters in legal cases and can call individuals to court, hence issuing a summons.

In contrast, while a court clerk plays an administrative role in the court system and manages court documents, they do not have the judicial authority to issue summonses. Additionally, police officers may serve summonses but do not have the authority to issue them. The district court itself is a venue where cases are heard, but it is typically the magistrate who directly handles the issuance of a summons as part of their judicial functions. Understanding the distinctions between these roles is crucial in grasping how legal processes operate.