We need more feminist magistrates

The session lasted just under three hours with five cases being heard. A mix of short updates from parole board & remand cases where the bench retired to deliberate. The last one involved images of CSA so I decided to call it a day and have a good think about everything I'd seen & heard.
The court staff were all helpful and welcoming, the usher took time out of what looked liked a crammed afternoon schedule to answer my (probably daft) questions.

@MillicentFaucet that is great to hear. Did you get to hear just one case or lots of smaller cases? How helpful were the court staff?

I was interested that the magistrates' vacancies page say they welcome applications from under-represented backgrounds and one of those was anyone under 50! Also from non-professional/managerial backgrounds. I am pleased they are actively seeking to be more representative of the population.

I sat in on a session at my nearest magistrate court this morning. It wasn't as intimidating as I imagined it would be so I'm planning on another visit then going ahead with my application.

What are people doing about Family Court applications (for which we can't observe cases) or is that something that is generally Not Recommended for first time applicants?

Thank you so much for all the kind words. We are so immensely proud of DD and whatever the outcome would have been, good on her for going for it and trying to make the bench more representative.

I haven't listened, but this Woman's Hour episode from Jan 22, discusses the latest recruitment for magistrates.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0013rb0?at_custom1=%5Bpost+type%5D&at_custom4=CC5491A6-7E12-11EC-8FB5-17D596E8478F&at_medium=custom7&at_custom2=twitter&at_campaign=64&at_custom3=%40BBCWomansHour

Ugh that link is messy, it does work though

Magistrate vacancies website
I've just checked that there are vacancies in my area & there are. I'm seriously considering it

How do I find out if they are looking for more magistrates in my area? This is something I have thought about before, though I might have missed the currebf recruitment drive given this thread was started a while ago.

Well done your daughter!

I know this thread will continue to rumble on but, as I’m just a handful of posts after Bowbridge’s, I loved the happy ending. 😄 Only 21? That’s brilliant! 👏

I'm going to call the local court on Monday and arrange a visit.

Many congratulations to your fabulous DD!

That's such an achievement. I'm vicariously proud of this excellent young woman.

I have been looking to apply for years now…never seem to be any vacancies in my areas. It seems like the shortages are limited to certain areas. Oh well…I keep checking in about once per year.

Well, they did not keep DD waiting for 5 days, she heard at 9.30 this morning that she is being:

'recommended for appointment to the Senior Presiding Judge as a magistrate.'

So proud 😊(I did say she was in her early 20's - she is actually 21).

That sounds nerve wracking, Bowbridge, well done to your DD for getting through both rounds.

👏 🤞

DD had her interview today. It was a 50 minute grilling, harder than anything she had ever experienced before... digging deep into character, morality and prejudices. It was via Teams and she said when it was over she shut her laptop and cried with relief! Then she went out for a walk, whatsapped us saying it was awful and there was no way she would get through to the second interview stage.

One hour later, she had an email to say she was through to the second interview (in 1.5 hrs time) and would be sent a case study and a crime ranking exercise. She had 40 minutes to do these then a further 50 minute interview that she felt went well.

There were 3 on the panel and an observer.

DD should hear in 5 days whether she has been successful.

Thank you all.

I shall book a day off and do this because I've lost a lot of time already.

Please don't wait to be emailed back by the courts, just turn up and explain you are a potential magistrate wishing to observe proceedings. The ushers/list callers will look after you. Go with a friend if that helps.

Scotland has Justices of the Peace who are lay magistrates. They sit in District Courts with a legal advisor.

In Scotland it is the Crown who decides which court (District, Sheriff or High Court) will hear a case and , at Sheriff Court level whether it will be solemn - with a jury, or summary- no jury. District Court never has a jury, High Court always has. The accused has no say in any of this.

I had an interview last week and have been recommended for appointment. Just waiting for confirmation from the regional group at their next meeting and my DBS check to come through.

My advice for interviews is to use the preparatory material, remain calm and be honest. I was honest to a question I was sure was about to disqualify me but it didn’t. I actually quite enjoyed the process and am looking forward to the next stages (hopefully!).

if you have any sort of inclination to do it, go view the court (as a potential magistrate). The security and ushers were so incredibly helpful and welcoming - the experience was very easy. Between cases the magistrates on the bench even asked me if I had any questions! It takes all sorts so don’t talk yourself out of it - let the panel decide!

DD phoned the local magistrate court and was told the courts were not open to the public due to Covid restrictions (Jan 2022), but as a prospective magistrate she was very welcome to visit. She spoke to security on arrival, explained that she was a prospective magistrate and she was welcomed and told which courts were sitting.

A short while later an usher came in and found her to say a trial was due to start in another court that she would find interesting. So she moved courts and sat through the entire trial.

After visiting, she was keener than ever to apply.

This has reminded me. The advice is that you're expected to visit your local courts having pre-arranged visits with them.

Approx. 20 emails later, the local courts have never responded to enquiries so I'm sorry to report I'm not even off the starting blocks.

Download the information on how to prepare for the interview-its available online. Good luck-just be honest & calm

@Squirrelonwheels DD has her interview tomorrow. I will let you know how she gets on. Any last minute advice?!

@Bowbridge Good luck to your daughter! The Mags Association has a “special interest” group set up for young magistrates - part of the remit of the group is to identify barriers to younger people becoming magistrates, to recruit more and to support those already in the role. There are challenges and she will be in the minority but things are changing. If you or her have any questions feel free to PM me.