Magistrate application -London anyone heard anything?

[WannabeMagistrate]

I applied to volunteer as a criminal magistrate in London. I sent off my application in July and have heard nothing. I chased it up about 6 weeks ago and was told they were still sifting and to be patient. I feel like I am
harassing them to ask again.

I just wondered if anyone was in a similar position and had actually been invited to the next stage or are just sitting here frustrated. The next lot of applications opens in January which seems mad.

My family member became one a couple years ago. It took absolutely ages before she was on actual cases sitting in court. Probably nearly a year. And she was a lawyer by trade so wasn't held up by paperwork etc.

I think you really do just need to be patient. There's loads of checks and stuff and they might have thousands of applications.

Thanks. I have heard of people waiting a long time after interview to be appointed, but not at the sift stage! Maybe it will be nearer 2 years in my case. Ironically all the cases I saw just had two magistrates sitting, so not like they have an abundance at the moment.