Magistrates Court. The Magistrates Court consisting of the Causes Civiles and Causes Criminelles is concerned with civil and criminal matters of a less serious nature dating from 1854 and have a closure period of 100 years. The Magistrates Court is also responsible for the Youth and Petty Debts Courts. Petty Debts records begin in 1968 and previous records of this nature can be found in the Cour du Billet which ran from 1646 – 1964.