We need more feminist magistrates

[IAmNotAGirl]

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

That's actually a bloody good idea.

I'm probably a bit long in the tooth to do much for the average age, but I shall pick the brains of a legal friend.

Sure, within such a context, but what we need is a reform of the legal system. It's outrageous that in England and Wales (no magistrates in Scotland, I don't know about Northern Ireland, sorry) we have sentencing done by people who are not lawyers and do not know the law. Yes, they have a little training (pitifully little); yes, they have a legal advisor to whom they do not have to listen; it's not enough.

The Secret Barrister's first book devotes a chapter to the grim tale of the magistrates' court (2018). You have a 23 % greater chance of conviction in the magistrates than in the crown court; if you're in for an offence that could go to either, better to elect the crown court even though this opens you up to a risk of a longer sentence. It gives some 'charming' summing up stories: aside from the obvious near conviction of a non-existant crime, the apparently ubiquitous phrase "we preferred the evidence of the prosecution witness" says it all. Beyond reasonable doubt? Where's that?

Oh my good god OP, thank you for this thread! I'm a magistrate (and a feminist, incidentally) and I have made a point of making myself available to sit in the domestic violence courts for the simple reason that many, many of my colleagues are reactionary, sheltered, misogynist dinosaurs who don't have the first clue about the reality of people's lives and more worryingly have absolutely no interest in learning about them. I know a couple of fantastic women on my bench, but the magistracy as a whole is crying out for (normal, non-incredibly-priviliged) women, and especially for independent-minded, strong, feminist women. If anyone reading has the time and the interest in it, please do consider doing this. I'm happy to answer any questions via DM.

I’m a feminist magistrate too! And also on the domestic abuse panel for the same reason as @Asterales (waves)

If the feminist magistrates here would care to give some form filling guidance etc., I'd hope there would be some keen people paying close attention.

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.

Oooh, interested.

@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…

at @Squirrelonwheels lovely to meet you on here!

@Asterales

at *@Squirrelonwheels* lovely to meet you on here!

Do you have a club or at least a handshake?

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

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.

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.

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.

It's trans magistrates who are under-represented.

@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

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....

@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.

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"

Applied.

*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?

@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.

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

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.

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.