A national campaign has been launched to recruit more magistrate judges, with an emphasis on encouraging people “from all backgrounds” to volunteer for the role.
Magistrates hear around 95% of criminal cases in England and Wales and also sit in the Family Court. The Courts and Tribunals Judiciary (CTJ) is appealing for more people to apply to become a magistrate, with the campaign aiming to raise awareness of the role and challenge common misconceptions about who can apply, said the CTJ.
Commenting on the recruitment efforts Sir Nicholas Green, senior presiding judge said: “Magistrates play a vital role in our justice system and in the communities they serve. Every day, they make important decisions that affect people’s lives, bringing their experience, judgement and commitment to fairness to the courtroom.
“We want our magistracy to reflect the rich diversity of the communities of England and Wales. You do not need legal qualifications or legal experience to become a magistrate. What matters is having integrity, sound judgement and a commitment to public service.”
The campaign is focused on qualities that underpin the role including fairness, integrity, sound judgement, empathy and a commitment to the community, encouraging individuals who share these values to consider applying. The CTJ added full training and ongoing support are provided throughout a magistrate’s service.
Speaking of her own experience as a magistrate in a video created by the Judicial Office, Khadija JP explained that “it’s more than just a role, it’s a public service. I get to see when I make a difference for somebody, I get to see when someone was really scared about coming to court and thought that they were going to either have a huge fine or they were going to have to suffer some really brutal consequences for them, recognising what is just for somebody and what the right punishment is or the right consequence of their actions is.
“Recognising that you can change someone’s thought processes instead or you can make them safe in their community, that’s important.”
