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Original poster

Magistrates court

33 replies

Mysa74 · 30/11/2023 06:12

Hi folks
I need some advice please...
Since march my family life has been turned upside down.
Husband has been diagnosed with a serious medical condition that he's been struggling to come to terms with. It's not going to kill him as long as he keeps taking the pills and follows doctors advice but it's really playing on his mind, has caused anxiety, depression, insomnia and anger, mostly directed at himself.
These symptoms crept up slowly before diagnosis and at one point he decided he was a rotten person and we (wife and dd2, dd6 &dd11) would be better off without him. He ran away in a complete state and police found him sleeping on a train station platform some 10 miles away. He came home willingly and was offered counselling which due to cutbacks he hasn't received. Fast forward two months to may this year. He went out

OP posts:
Original poster
Mysa74 · 30/11/2023 13:40

It says "notice of criminal charge" in big black letters at the top and gives a court date, time and address further down. Charges are on the other side. There's 5 double-sided A4 pages.of information.

OP posts:
WaxhamSeals · 30/11/2023 17:58

He doesn’t need a barrister; solicitors are generally better at magistrates court.
He can instruct his own solicitor now. He may qualify for legal aid depending on means, or he might need to pay.
OR he can ask to speak to the duty solicitor on the day, free of charge.

Rose7728 · 30/11/2023 21:53

May I ask why solicitors are generally better at mags courts? Not to offend just a genuine question? Personal experience was that my barrister was better at mitigating issues in a complex case and this one seems to be a tad complex.

WaxhamSeals · 30/11/2023 23:34

Criminal solicitors are magistrates court experts

Quantumphysicality · 30/11/2023 23:45

Solicitors are in the mags day in, day out. Magistrates, district judges, and legal advisors can get frustrated with barristers who are used to getting a lot more time to present their cases and don’t understand the need to get to the point! Equally, addressing a lay bench is a very different skill to addressing a judge.
Also, solicitors usually have much more understanding of procedure and sentencing outcomes in the mags.

Quantumphysicality · 30/11/2023 23:47

Op- listen to @CelticPromise

Original poster
Mysa74 · 01/12/2023 07:19

Thanks guys, he's going to ask the magistrates court involved for recommendations today. Who's the best person to go through when he rings please?

OP posts:
Rose7728 · 01/12/2023 09:19

Thank you @Quantumphysicality that is an excellent explanation

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