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Original poster

We need more feminist magistrates

55 replies

IAmNotAGirl · 24/01/2022 16:00

More magistrates are urgently needed and they want more variety, there are lots of articulate women on here

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10433569/Officials-search-4-000-new-magistrates-huge-recruitment-drive-beat-case-backlog-courts.html

OP posts:
Original poster
IAmNotAGirl · 06/03/2022 10:11

@bishophaha

I'm definitely interested. Someone else in my family has suggested this to me before actually. I don't know if I'm confident enough though.
Go for it!

If a family member has suggested it they think you’re capable so just do it. Let your lack of confidence mean you get a reputation for being a thoughtful thorough magistrate

OP posts:
bishophaha · 05/03/2022 23:47

I'm definitely interested. Someone else in my family has suggested this to me before actually. I don't know if I'm confident enough though.

happydappy2 · 05/03/2022 21:13

I’m a magistrate, have made it very clear to my bench chair & mentor (and everyone I meet through JP duties) that mixed sex prisons are dangerous for women. Am particularly angry that the MA (magistrates association) who are an independent body & could hold the government to account on this, refuse to. Was tempted to resign in protest about women’s prisons being mixed sex but hope to accomplish change from within…what is scary is the number of magistrates that have no idea womens prisons are not single sex. It can seem daunting to apply but there are online resources… the judicial system is definitely written by men for men.

Bowbridge · 05/03/2022 20:58

My daughter applied in January and has got through to the interview stage. She is in her early 20s. There are only 88 magistrates under 30 years old in the UK out of 17,000. 50% of magistrates are over 60.

Any advice from current magistrates or legal advisers welcome.

MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor · 25/01/2022 21:20

Although I would dispute your claim that they are a tiny minority. As evidence seems to suggest that upwards of half a million are now identifying as trans in the UK. Which isnt really that small at all. Enough to present a significant risk to women when transwomen are using women's spaces. With many trans people and their allies pushing these changes, I would say that they are still quite well represented in positions of power.
I would also say you are wrong to describe them as a persecuted minority, certainly in the UK. Indeed, many of them seem to have rights that mere ordinary people could only dream of

MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor · 25/01/2022 21:04

No, they really are a tiny amount. A persecuted minority.

Interesting. They can't be under represented then can they. More, over represented in fact.

CRbear · 25/01/2022 20:38

Timely! I applied a couple of weeks ago after hearing a women’s hour segment. Waiting to hear now. Had a really great experience visiting the courts. Nice to see others doing the same.

WorkingClassWoman · 25/01/2022 20:37

I doubt they have many magistrates who’ve been homeless so I thought I’d apply

Redlake · 25/01/2022 20:37

@MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor

*As defined by the EHRC: "An individual who is ‘proposing to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone a process or part of a process to reassign their sex"

But there's only a tiny percentage of transpeople in the population isn't there? So the representatation would be proportional to that. Unless of course you think that the amount of transpeople isn't a tiny amount at all. Do you think that?

No, they really are a tiny amount. A persecuted minority.
MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor · 25/01/2022 20:28

*As defined by the EHRC:
"An individual who is ‘proposing to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone a process or part of a process to reassign their sex"

But there's only a tiny percentage of transpeople in the population isn't there? So the representatation would be proportional to that. Unless of course you think that the amount of transpeople isn't a tiny amount at all. Do you think that?

jessieminto · 25/01/2022 20:26

Applied. Grin

Redlake · 25/01/2022 20:24

As a matter of interest, what are you basing that on? Is that the umbrella definition or something that is narrower?

As defined by the EHRC:
"An individual who is ‘proposing to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone a process or part of a process to reassign their sex"

MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor · 25/01/2022 20:22

@Redlake

It's trans magistrates who are under-represented.
Seems to be that transwomen are very over represented in many positions of power. Just like men are. ☺️

Time for women to now have those opportunities.

aweegc · 25/01/2022 20:20

@Redlake

It's trans magistrates who are under-represented.
How so? Trans folx make up a very, very tiny proportion of the population. Women, on the other hand....
EmbarrassingHadrosaurus · 25/01/2022 20:15

@Redlake

It's trans magistrates who are under-represented.
As a matter of interest, what are you basing that on? Is that the umbrella definition or something that is narrower?
Redlake · 25/01/2022 20:13

It's trans magistrates who are under-represented.

NewMag2021 · 25/01/2022 19:59

Newly appointed Magistrate here. The application process, alongside this board, helped me find my way from Beeee Kind to GC. I am throughly, boringly normal and spent the entire application process waiting to be told "no thanks".

There are some really strong, inspirational, women on the Bench where I'm based.

EdithStourton · 25/01/2022 19:04

Catching up with the thread.

I will definitely pick the brains of the legal women I know. On paper I look privileged, but a) I grew up skint with a controlling arsehole of a father and b) my working life has made me aware of a lot of crap that goes on.

Arabella94 · 24/01/2022 21:01

This is very important.
The worst decisions made in the Family Court are often made by magistrates.
Women and children are being abused.
I am supporting the other woman that posted a thread earlier on the family court.

Masdintle · 24/01/2022 21:00

I think I'll stick my name down. Do my bit. I'm perfectly ordinary and not privileged. Thanks Op for the heads up and others for the links

EmbarrassingHadrosaurus · 24/01/2022 20:28

@Asterales

at *@Squirrelonwheels* lovely to meet you on here!
Do you have a club or at least a handshake?
Asterales · 24/01/2022 20:24

at @Squirrelonwheels lovely to meet you on here!

EmbarrassingHadrosaurus · 24/01/2022 20:15

@Squirrelonwheels

I’m a feminist magistrate too! And also on the domestic abuse panel for the same reason as *@Asterales* (waves)
magistrates.judiciary.uk/how-to-volunteer/?sType=magistrates_website

For anyone interested…

MrBlobbyLivesNextDoor · 24/01/2022 20:04

Oooh, interested.

JennyForeigner · 24/01/2022 20:01

Applying for family law in my area :-)

I remember seeing a very bright articulate woman talk a few years ago about her friend's very traumatic experience in family court. Getting selected for the bench was her way of making things better. It has been my model of positive action ever since.