How do you become a magistrate?
Discussion
Reading a recent post about how a scrote who jacked up someones car and stole its alloys was subsequently fined just £25 by the local beak.
This got me thinking.
Why are magistrates so apparently out of touch with reality? Are they from a generation that thinks the world is like Mrs Marple and that £25 and a good telling off is enough to send said Scrote away, determined to correct his path in life? Are they really that out of touch?
Or are rules laid down which govern the sentances and fines they can dish out?
How do you become a magistrate anyway? Are there any who are also PH'ers?
If not, maybe there should be ! Someone has to introduce some sanity to this country...
This got me thinking.
Why are magistrates so apparently out of touch with reality? Are they from a generation that thinks the world is like Mrs Marple and that £25 and a good telling off is enough to send said Scrote away, determined to correct his path in life? Are they really that out of touch?
Or are rules laid down which govern the sentances and fines they can dish out?
How do you become a magistrate anyway? Are there any who are also PH'ers?
If not, maybe there should be ! Someone has to introduce some sanity to this country...
Anybody without a criminal record can theoretically become a magistrate.
They're having a problem recruiting due to points on licences. Used to be OK for 3 points....now they've had to increase it to 6, but still struggle to find clean candidates.
Silly buggers didn't see that one coming, did they...?
They're having a problem recruiting due to points on licences. Used to be OK for 3 points....now they've had to increase it to 6, but still struggle to find clean candidates.
Silly buggers didn't see that one coming, did they...?
Wacky Racer did they mention compulsary brain removal on the advert,your Ma excepted obviously Slinky, seems to be a requirement for our little lot up here, that and an ability to hand out community punishment orders for serious offences whilst bringing on firing squads for minor traffic infringements.
The Lord Chancellor will not generally appoint a person under 27 or over 65. Magistrates must retire at the age of 70. Undischarged bankrupts, serving members of HM Forces, traffic wardens and members of the police force or anyone engaged in an occupation that might be seen to conflict with the role of a magistrate, are not eligible to apply.
Neither can you apply if you are a close relative (father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister or in-law) of a magistrate in the same court area, or of a police officer, special constable, and civilian employee of a police force or traffic warden in the same court area.
If you or your partner work or perform community activities that are clearly incompatible with the duties of a magistrate then that would also disqualify you. This would include employees of the Crown Prosecution Service, Prison Service, Probation Service or Magistrates' Courts service.
Political affiliation will not disqualify you, although the Lord Chancellor is keen that the bench reflects the voting patterns of the area as evidenced by the previous two general elections. There are other factors that may sway the decision process and that's membership of organisations; the Lord Chancellor does not want too many members of the same organisation on the same bench, and you will be specifically asked at interview to declare whether or not you are a freemason.
Edited to add, you don't get paid and You will be required to sit for a minimum of 26 half days each year and to be available for full day sittings. The Lord Chancellor hopes that most magistrates will sit for about 35 half days.
>> Edited by wedge girl on Saturday 12th March 20:01
Neither can you apply if you are a close relative (father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister or in-law) of a magistrate in the same court area, or of a police officer, special constable, and civilian employee of a police force or traffic warden in the same court area.
If you or your partner work or perform community activities that are clearly incompatible with the duties of a magistrate then that would also disqualify you. This would include employees of the Crown Prosecution Service, Prison Service, Probation Service or Magistrates' Courts service.
Political affiliation will not disqualify you, although the Lord Chancellor is keen that the bench reflects the voting patterns of the area as evidenced by the previous two general elections. There are other factors that may sway the decision process and that's membership of organisations; the Lord Chancellor does not want too many members of the same organisation on the same bench, and you will be specifically asked at interview to declare whether or not you are a freemason.
Edited to add, you don't get paid and You will be required to sit for a minimum of 26 half days each year and to be available for full day sittings. The Lord Chancellor hopes that most magistrates will sit for about 35 half days.
>> Edited by wedge girl on Saturday 12th March 20:01
My friend is a magistrate, she is in her early 40's, is married to a shop keeper and has two children and works as an adminstrator for the MOD. My understanding is that courts aim to have a mix of people of all creed, colour age and social standing - in fact another friend of mine was rejected as she was a middle aged, female housewife and the area that she applied to already had their "quota" (for want of a better word) of middle aged, female, housewives.
A business partner was a magistrate for a number of years and loved it, eventually becoming chairman. Then he got 3 points for speeding. Had to report it to the LCD and write a grovelling letter promising not to do it again.
Sometime after, he got a further 3 points for speeding. The LCD forced him to resign from the bench, despite an even more grovelling letter. They were quite insistent that he was now not magistrate material as he would have to hear motoring (including speeding) cases and couldn't be impartial.
Sometime after, he got a further 3 points for speeding. The LCD forced him to resign from the bench, despite an even more grovelling letter. They were quite insistent that he was now not magistrate material as he would have to hear motoring (including speeding) cases and couldn't be impartial.
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