Magistrate who is only 23

[fullbeem]

Have asked this in the TV forum as a contestant in Total Wipeout tonight claims to be the youngest magistrate at the age of 23. Only just able to vote but he could be sentancing people to years in jail. Is this possible or lies.

[Jasandjules]

Actually I thought there was a 21 year old Mag.....

[Cheeky Jim]

yes. You can be one at 18 years I believe...although nobody is!

[fullbeem]

Cheeky Jim said:

yes. You can be one at 18 years I believe...although nobody is!

Ok how and why is that job never suggested by the career office at 16?

[Alex97]

fullbeem said:

Have asked this in the TV forum as a contestant in Total Wipeout tonight claims to be the youngest magistrate at the age of 23. Only just able to vote but he could be sentancing people to years in jail. Is this possible or lies.

A magistrate in the adult court can only give custodial sentences of up to 6 months, in the Youth court they can give custodial sentences of up to 2 years.

[plg]

I suspect he means a lay magistrate....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justices_of_the_Peace...

and not the best site but:

http://www.traffordmagistrates.info/html/body_beco...

How can I apply to become a Magistrate

Lay magistrates in England and Wales, except in the Duchy of Lancaster, are appointed by the The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor on behalf and in the name of the Sovereign.

Candidates are recommended to the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor for appointment by his local Advisory Committees, which consist of magistrates and other local people. The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor will consider a candidate's personal suitability for appointment regardless of ethnic origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, political affiliation, religion or, subject to the physical requirements of the office, disability.
No formal qualifications are required. In making their recommendations, Advisory Committees not only consider the personal suitability of candidates but also the number of vacancies and the need to ensure that the composition of each bench broadly reflects the community which it serves.

Applicants should be between the ages of 18 and 70.

Who can be appointed
There is no requirement for an applicant to have any formal qualifications.
With a few exceptions anyone is eligible to serve as a magistrate if between the ages of 18 and 70. However, the Lord Chancellor will not appoint:
* anyone who is not of good character and personal standing
* an undischarged bankrupt
* anyone who, because of a disability, cannot carry out all of the duties of a magistrate
* a serving member of Her Majesty's Forces; a member of a police force or a traffic warden or any other occupation which might be seen to conflict with the role of a magistrate
* a close relative of a person who is already a magistrate on the same Bench

[wagon and horses]

It's not suggested as a career as it is unpaid.

[plg]

wagon and horses said:

It's not suggested as a career as it is unpaid.

It can also be quite time hungry - need a very supportive company to allow the amount of time needed. A couple of our senior HR people are lay magistrates as it's viewed as a good thing for them to do.

[Mojooo]

Having worked in law enforcement I had seen some piddly sentences handed out which is really frustrating, especially when the defendants and their solicitors 'play the system' and basically drag things on before finally going guilty at the last second or whatever.

For that reason I wanted to become a magistrate but the time you need to dedicate is quite hefty (a lot of weekends IIRC).

A mixture of old and young can only be good and I presume they must be vetted to make sure they are capable.

Edited by Mojooo on Saturday 10th April 20:12