Lack of magistrates

[crosstalk]

Listening to R4 tonight there is a lack of magistrates which makes the usual 3 magistrates down to 2 and a problem for the system. However you can't apply over aged 65, while supreme court can go to 75 and most judges to 70.

My question is twofold. 1. why are they not appealing to people to apply and if they are, why isn't it working? 2. when the tax system is not paying women until their late sixties and expecting them to work, why would they judge them incapable of being a magistrate?

It does seem odd.
Interestingly, although I've known 3 or 4 people who have been magistrates, I've never, ever seen (or heard on local radio) any adverts asking people to consider applying, or even looking in to it.

I mena, if you had a burning desire I suppose you could find out, but it's odd in all my years (including being around the courts for jury service) I've never heard any prompting for people to give it a thought.

I'd also question why people couldn't do this until they are 73, 74, 75. The 'young retired' would surely be the people who could give time to this. None of us these days are going to retire before 65/ 66 / 67.

The real answer is the UK does justice on the cheap.