DO YOU WANT TO BE A MAGISTRATE?

Aged between 18 & 70 years old? If so then become a magistrate today!

The courts are in desperate need of magistrates as approximately 96% of criminal cases begin and end in the magistrates court!

What are the benefits of becoming a magistrate? Develop personal skills

Develop an understanding of the local community

Gain knowledge of the law

Gain self-confidence

Leadership

Contributing towards the community

Contribute to upholding the law to make the community a safer place

Facts about being a magistrate

Magistrates come from all occupations, from the unemployed and retired people to pilots and teachers. Magistrates are ordinary people who have common sense that are able to listen to both sides of an argument carefully and are able to reach a fair decision.

Magistrates DO NOT need any legal background.

Magistrates are the three people who sit at the front of a court. They are not paid for their services but may be able to claim expenses. Magistrates do not come up with the sentencing of an offender but follow a guideline which is there to assist them. (Judicial office

(2013)

Why are there magistrates?

The Magistrates court needs three Magistrates to sit at the front to make reasonable decisions on sentencing the offender.

The magistrates court deals with three kinds of cases: Summary offences – less serious cases such as motoring offences. Either-way offences – can be dealt with in front of magistrates or a judge in the crown court. this includes offences such as theft. Indictable-only offences – the more serious offences such as murder, manslaughter and rape. These types of offences will be heard at a Crown Court.

Without magistrates, the court would not be able to come to a reasonable decision for sentencing the offender as there would be too many people wanting to take part. With the three magistrates it is a lot easier to make a decision.

How is the Magistrates court set out?

Most courtrooms are similar with the magistrates bench always at the front centre of the room. The witness stand, defendant, clerk of the court, lawyers for defence and prosecution, court usher and the viewers will always be there, although they may be in a different place than shown.

Some cases that are dealt with in the magistrates court will be done within a short period of time as they are less serious offences, therefore the sentencing guidelines will be easy for the magistrates to use.

Magistrates have to take the judicial oath when they are sworn in, this is:

“I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second, in the office of Justice of the Peace and I will do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of the realm without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.” (Magistrates association, (2014)

How to apply:

Visit www.gov.uk/become-magistrate

This website has a lot of information and also an application form which can be filled in and sent off.

Watch this video of ‘becoming a magistrate’:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzzZGtnerxU

Bibliography

GIGGS, P. (2014). Magistrates: - representatives of the people? [Online] p.08. Available from: http://transformjustice.org.uk/main/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Transform-Justice_Magistrates-Feb14-report2.pdf [Accessed: 16 November 2014]

Magistrates Association (2014) why become a magistrate?. [Online] Available from: http://www.magistrates-association.org.uk/about-magistrates/why-become-a-magistrate/ [accessed: 13 November 2014]