MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
I have heard that the UK government is on a bit of a drive to recruit magistrates, at least in part to get the system moving after a back-log in cases over the Covid lockdown.
In any case, the idea vaguely interests me, so I am wondering if anyone on here is one/has been one, or knows someone who has, and if they might share their observations.
What's it like? What are the upsides? Downsides?
The Secret Barrister book has a section on this, so that might be an interesting read.
Mrs TiRed is the law. Challenging selection process to filter our the undesirable and opinionated. Upsides: fascinating, all human life is on view, opportunities to make a real difference. Downsides: frustration, court admin, disorganisation, demographic of other magistrates, pay (there isn't any). She's been a JP for 16 years.
The Secret Barrister book has a section on this, so that might be an interesting read.
IIRC he said unless you have a CV of volunteering work they won't consider you.
Also the sentencing is very prescribed so you don't have much real leeway, just a cog in the machine..
IIRC he said unless you have a CV of volunteering work they won’t consider you.
which is somewhat counter productive I'd have thought?
The secret Barristers a well good read.
If not a bit worrying 🙂
which is somewhat counter productive I’d have thought?
He did say it was stupid....
UK government is on a bit of a drive to recruit magistrates
*ahem - sorry, I will be that guy*
English courts perhaps.
Scotland has devolved and different legal system.
Not sure on Wales or NI.
He? Funnily enough I've always thought SB was a she. I've literally no idea why I thought that though.
I really hope some more average, normal people sign up. I've met a few and I haven't enjoyed their company. I'm sure TIRed Mrs is lovely though.
I had a customer who was a magistrate. He was also a union rep in the fire brigade.
Crikey, he couldn’t half talk but he couldn’t listen.
No help. Sorry.
Class Traitor...
Class Traitor…
Not if he refers the nobility for Crown Court proceedings every time.
If he does he wont be a Magistrate for very long...
One of the BBC radio stations had a phone in about it last week (five live or Jeremy vine). General consensus seemed to be one of frustration with the amount of inefficiency and time wasted.
Class Traitor…
I don't know if you were being serious in any way, but even as a joke that sort of comment hardly encourages the widest range of people to apply to the magistry and therefore makes it more likely that it keeps its reputation for being white, middle class and old.
IIRC he said unless you have a CV of volunteering work they won’t consider you.
. I wouldn't let SB put you off applying. They despise the entire system of using volunteer magistrates (possibly with good reason) and as a barrister are very good at putting forward a persuasive case. It's not clear whether the comments about volunteering are based on anything more than anecdote or one local selection committee because the SB does list the attributes being sought and previous volunteering is not specifically listed.