Could you be a magistrate?

[Netcurtainnelly]

There's a big volunteer recruitment drive for magistrates at the moment?
Does it interest you?

I’m responding to what others have posted about the boxes you apparently have to tick in the current recruitment drive. I haven’t checked whether it’s true, I decided to respond on the basis that there was at least some truth in it as it sounds like a fairly common ‘we are especially looking for…’ recruitment drive.

I've been on the waiting list for over two years nothing has come up in Brighton

That’s probably because you are not seen as the one making the decisions, which of course you aren’t even though you have an extremely responsible and powerful role.

In my experience (criminal barrister who’s spent a lot of time in the mags), legal advisors are really good at giving off a very calm, impartial (which of course they are) don’t mind me I’m not really that important round here sort of vibe. While working like crazy to keep it all running of course! It’s not surprising the ne’er do wells don’t have it in for them, or even remember them!

On a wider point though, I agree. There’s much less sense of impending retribution from working in the criminal justice system than you would think.

My friend did once have a motorist he’d just prosecuted wait round the corner of Milton Keynes Mags though. The drivers are the worst.

Absolutely does yes,

I'm not surprised we're short of magistrates.
Two words: expenses policy.

I am and have been for twenty years.

What RUBBISH about education

I think people who say they couldn't judge are quite odd.
what , you'd not feel that a sentence needs to be served on say, people who groom vulnerable adults to deal drugs? Who assault their partners?

I've been a cab driver for 21 years, if probably know most of them that were up infront of me & I'd be sending them to crown!
Maybe

You can now apply direct just to do family.

I'd say the skills are :
being able to politely discuss various opinions with strangers (when sentencing)
being quick at calculating sentences and fines
being able to multi task when being watched by a whole court
read and process lots of information fast
maintaining attention when it's really boring without nodding/ looking horrified

and also hearing REALLY grim stuff and not letting it affect you too much.

You wouldn't and you wouldn't.

The town i live in is too small & i currently do a job that involves public, so no.
However if it was not in my city then probably

I would love to

Looks fascinating

I used to work as a support worker in my local court house
Not for the faint hearted that's for sure !!!!

@Mags1001youd find that the court pulls in people from all over
I sometimes recognise people but it's not automatic that you can't sit. The legal advisor will ask how well you know them.
if you do you just sit that case out.

bear in mind on busy days you can have 40 attendees plus.

Wouldn’t you worry about reprisals?

Exactly - it's going to attract a very slim slice of the population who are interested in such things, and available to volunteer. I can't imagine many working class people managing to work for free?(unless they are retired)...What a bizarre system!

Lots of public sector or self employed people do it.
I knew of a plasterer and a beautician.

People in court are normally really stressed. They're not eyeing up the bench to stalk them later.

100% - but the timing hasn't worked out for me. They have quite strict pre-application criteria where you have to sit in court for 2 full days to watch a load of cases and it must be a magistrates court. Both times ive discovered they were recruiting it was too late/unworkable with current commitments.

Also - I know it sounds stupid, but the 2 nearest courts are in the middle of a city... without any parking at all (think about £38 a day to park type of places!) So it would be a nightmare getting to and from the courts.

The best way to attract a wider diversity of people, including younger working age people to the role is to make it paid.

I would hate to do this role but appreciate the people who do it.

Yeah @Hufflemuffbut do they not have court parking? Just phone ahead and ask to use that
we are really welcoming to observers. Try to get a chance to chat with them in down time

They do have paid magistrates but they're judges in training normally
sit on longer or more complicated hearings.

But shortage of magistrates is not the issue with the back log.

it's the lack of court staff / legal advisors/ ushers and that they shut loads of courts a while back

I’d double check that requirement… when I did mine, a half-day was considered enough. Generally the morning session is 10-1, so plenty of time to see a variety of cases. Also try to pick two different days of the week, as you’ll have more chance of seeing different types of cases, i.e. remand court/traffic court.

Courts should have car parking for sitting mags, but I appreciate this might not always be possible, and certainly won’t be available to visitors. Do try to find a way to observe if you’re interested, it’ll really give you a good feel as to whether the role is right for you or not.