What must a magistrate do when they receive a complaint?

When a magistrate receives a complaint, their primary responsibility is to review the complaint to determine if there is probable cause for the allegations made. This step is crucial because it ensures that there is sufficient reason to believe that a crime has been committed and that the named individual may have committed the crime. This review process typically includes examining the facts presented in the complaint, evaluating the evidence, and considering any sworn statements provided.

Conducting a trial or issuing a judgment would occur later in the judicial process and is not the immediate responsibility of a magistrate upon receiving a complaint. Similarly, while notifying the accused may be part of the subsequent legal procedures, it is not the initial or primary duty when a complaint is first received. The focus is on assessing whether there is a legal basis to proceed further, making the review for probable cause the correct answer.