benefits of being a magistrate

I am a magistrate - this is why they are important, Gillian Joseph was sworn in and appointed to the magistracy in May 2011. Paul v DPP- kerb crawling. At 11 o-clock I was shopping because we were sent home. Students can directly give the judicial service exam after graduation to become a member of the subordinate judiciary. A few months later I saw him working in Asda. A person appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court must be a citizen of India and possess a degree of Law from a recognised university. Theres been a turn-over of staff. I had enough money not to work anymore but I still wanted to give something back to the community and I had always had an interest in the law. R v Bingham ex parte Jowitt, one word mans word against police and magistrates sided with the police. Named one of the fastest growing companies in the United States. Drink driver crashes into Porsche with toddler in passenger seat, ANOTHER Rooney family member goes on trial accused of modern slavery offences, Mum rips out woman's hair in 'out of character' street attack, Drunk man lashes out at police claiming his drinks were spiked, Joiner caught drug driving by police after smoking cannabis, Man, 23, claims he only had a few after being caught drink-driving at 2.15am, www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-magistrate-application-form, B&M stores closing down - full list of those affected, The first store is set to close down this weekend, Cobra Warrior: Air forces arrive from overseas at RAF Waddington ahead of exercise, Temporary traffic restrictions have been introduced near the base, Met Office gives exact dates snow could hit UK as cold snap set to arrive, A meteorologist has assessed the situation, Emergency services called to crash on A1 which caused lengthy delays, Traffic was moving very slowly at the time of the incident, Four in court charged with causing death of 20-year-old Denii Reynolds in A16 crash, Denii, 20, died in a crash on the A16 between Utterby and Fotherby, Over 80 per cent of children in Lincolnshire will receive a spot at first-choice secondary school, The figure is likely to be even higher by September, Brothers' drug den uncovered by police after neighbour's tip-off, The police found cannabis potentially worth up to 137,000, Plans set to be approved for new Aldi supermarket which will 'bring back life' to area, Councillors and residents have welcomed plans for the new store, Prices to fall as RAC sends message to 'hard done by' drivers, Warning issued to any driver in UK filling up with petrol or diesel in next 14 days, Calls for council leader to resign over scrapping Lincoln Christmas Market, An economic minister said he wasn't told about the decision, Four 'worst' GP surgeries in Lincolnshire revealed - and how your local practice fares, Use our tool to see where your GP ranks and how well it performs, Teacher who works a minimum 60-hour week has to buy pens for students herself, She says class sizes are too big and students have to share laptops, Historic Celtic artefact found in Lincolnshire field to be sold at auction, It was founded in a stubble field in Lincolnshire by a detectorist, Skellingthorpe residents in cul-de-sac waiting for street light to be replaced for a year, Emma Pattison: Headteacher's husband died of a "shotgun wound to the head", George Pattison is believed to have murdered his wife and daughter, Lincolnshire 'inundated' with location requests from film companies, There is a lot of work going on to welcome filming in the county, Live as teachers strike across Lincolnshire in dispute over pay and working conditions, The dispute is about pay, working conditions, education funding and staff retention, 'We'll be back in Skegness' says far-right activist seen at recent demonstration, The demonstration was held to protest asylum seekers being housed in Skegness hotels, Should horse riders be allowed on Lincolnshire's roads? What are the benefits of being a magistrate? We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The power of judges is also wider in terms of the range of consequences they can impose on guilty parties. Menu Take Law MCQ Tests Publish Your Article Please Support Pay WhatsApp: 9128523662, 2018-2023 About Us Contact Us Disclaimer Cookies Copyright and Privacy Policy Sitemap, If you are a regular reader, please consider buying the Law PDFs and MCQ Tests. As of April this year there were 1,059 magistrates in Wales. Show How much time will I need to commit to the role? Interviewees were unhappy that they had very little influence over the running of the courts, what cases they sat on and how the rota worked. There are certain advantages and disadvantages to using lay magistrates. He shall be a respected jurist, according to the Indian president. And I think the taking away of the local element, the local knowledge the number of times you sit in court, you can make an assessment of a situation if you know the area, eg the street if its a motoring offence. They knew what they could get you to do and not to do. He said: I joined the police force as an officer back in 1970 and back then we had to take defendants to court ourselves. The person must pass the test administered by the judicial service. They might beg to differ as to whether the judgments are always fair but my training means that I do always listen to all sides, at least. Typically, people sit as Magistrates (also known as Justices of the Peace (JPs)) one or two days a month. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Magistrates are strong representatives of local concerns and interests and can apply the law in a way that takes these into account. What's he waiting for? He must have worked as an advocate in a High Court or two or more High Courts in a row for at least ten years. Registered office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE, Advantages and disadvantages of Magistrates. I always wanted to know more about how the Bench arrived at their decisions, what were the processes involved. A judge must hear both the parties (prosecution and defence). Registered Charity (No. Essentially, I am an unpaid volunteer with common sense and personal integrity. Magistrates must sit for a minimum of 26 half-day sessions a year - or 13 full days. The individual must be at least 35 years old (age differs from state to state). There are many advantages of magistrates and being able to discuss these in your work can help you with essay questions. When you look at a defendant regardless of the circumstances you look at them as human beings.. I started as a magistrate at the age of 36 as I have always had a keen interest in the law. Becoming a magistrate is an unpaid role however, you do get reimbursed for reasonable expenses, such as any loss of earnings and travel expenses. You will have enough time to balance your personal and professional life. "Usually it's done as a last resort," he said. The main motive was to make a modern law website that is clean, comfortable, and has few ads. Magistrates take the same oath as judges and are subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct. Also, the training given to every magistrate can be expensive. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. 49%are women. Julie said that the hardest part for her is seeing people who are there who have lost everything: The thing I find hard is people who are in front of the court for no fault of their own. Live in local area as they know local news. Agnes first moved to Wales in 1986 and describes herself as a "British Malaysian Indian". All the interviewees were asked about the job satisfaction of being a magistrate. Judges often hire law clerks one to two years in advance of the date on which the clerk will actually start working for the judge. Mains examination is a subjective paper. Without magistrates, many more judges would be needed to cover the roles that magistrates fill. What transferable skills will a magistrate bring to an organisation? Balanced view - a bench of three Magistrates provides a balanced view; Cost - they are volunteers and therefore relatively cheap, though do take longer to make decisions than professional judges; Disadvantages. They are unpaid but receive allowances to cover expenses. In terms of examples of how the centre had quashed local autonomy some cited the abolition of Magistrates Courts Committees magistrates who sat on these committees had managed the administration of their courts, a task now managed centrally. Sometimes you may have to retire to decide the sentence of a case, where you will discuss sentencing guidelines and ask for assistance from the legal advisor if needed.. State court judges and justices also hire law clerks. But Roger Sanders, who also works as a gardener, has been dispensing down-to-earth justice since he became a magistrate 12 years ago. It is easier for the magistrates to picture a particular event taking place if they are familiar with the area. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. Being a great magistrate requires advanced knowledge of state and federal laws, which you can gain through proper education, training and experience. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. Registered office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE, Advantages and Disadvantages of Magistrates. Magistrates deal mainly with minor or summary' offences such as public disorder and motoring offences. I was surrounded by approximately 50 other newly-appointed magistrates who each took the oath in turn. Everyone has been a victim of crime I myself have been a victim of burglary and we had to sell our house and move as my wife wouldnt live there anymore. On being accepted as an intern at Livemint in 2010, he etched PRESS onto his scooter. It shall also address the key issue of social inclusion by enabling suitable representation to marginalised and deprived sections of society. Not representative - similar criticisms to judiciary being from middle-class and professional backgrounds Eligibility for becoming a Supreme Court judge is: Every High Court consists of one Chief Justice and other judges as may be required from time to time. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. For at least seven years, the person must be an advocate. More available than judges as no training is required. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF BENEFITS . Magistrate Roger Sanders. These are the essential duties of a judge: Apart from the monthly salary, a judge is entitled to a lot of monthly allowances given below: The executive magistrate is the district magistrate of a particular area. Given his infectious and seemingly perpetual cheerfulness, it is hard to imagine him pouring over legal tomes and delivering stony-faced verdicts. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Your email address will not be published. Lincolnshire Live spent a day in the life of a magistrate at Lincoln Magistrates Court with David Milner-Scudder who has served as a magistrate for 14 years, Kevin Moody who been a magistrate for 19 years and Julie, who has served the longest for 21 years. Another agreed: for me, its less about remuneration than about the efficiency of the process I feel Id be valued more if there werent days like I had today. For example, magistrates can claim expenses on things such as travel. Other graduates may hold positions in the legislature and executive branch but not in the judiciary. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. As part of Volunteers' Week 2021, we spoke to two magistrates, Dan and Katherine, about balancing volunteering as a magistrate with a career. 2023 BBC. Paul v DPP- kerb crawling. Of course, magistrates are not entirely free there are still some costs associated with them. It is often highly regarded. N.C. There are around 30,000 magistrates in England and Wales, dealing with around 97 per cent of all criminal cases. There are lots of letters on the board in X court saying we value your work but it is just words on paper.. The length of time since they committed the offence is also a factor. They train for four years (seven if you count the three year continuation training) and have a legal clerk on hand if they get stuck on the finer . 2023 Magistrates Association. An average day for a magistrate will involve sitting on the bench in a court room for the morning and afternoon sessions and make judgements based on the law on a variety of cases. Health Requirements There are no big health requirements and no medical exam will need to be taken. Live in local area as they know local news. This will offer an opportunity to select suitable qualified fresh legal talent through a proper all-India merit selection system. He or she must be of age group between 21 to 35 years (age differs from state to state). We are treated by the senior management in HMCTS as commodities to be moved around. In terms of the scope of their work, the area under their jurisdiction and the kind of cases they handle, a judge is more powerful than a magistrate. You may also. Show Will my employment affect my eligibility to become a magistrate? This interference means the lack of influence of magistrates as a body; the magistracy is being run by the civil service. He said: I was the director on the London Underground and I started sitting as a magistrate whilst I was still working. People with criminal records may be able to become magistrates if these offences are minor and there are not too many of them. Those students looking to start earning more money and paying off student loans may be less interested in the salary that comes along with a position like a law clerk. Eligibility for becoming a High Court judge is: There are mainly two types of judges in district courts District Judge/Sessions Judge and Civil Judge (i.e., the magistrate). 806 8067 22 In addition, magistrates are a relatively cheap option for the legal system compared to judges. (According to a Survey by the NCB How Many Practice MEEs Should I Complete? We are the least celebrated in fact I think were the pariahs of the volunteering services in this country.. We had one man who was a regular drug user and he had been in and out of court many times. Earn your bachelor's degree. Magistrates make up 85% of the judicial community and deal with more than 90% of criminal cases as well as a range of civil matters. That feels good., Magistrates were passionate about their role but many had concerns about how they were treated and the way the courts were being managed, The rate of change is probably too fast so that people feel undervalued.There isnt a chance to really feel that people are having a contribution in terms of collaboration, in terms of making suggestions as to how things might change; it is all being done to us rather than us being part of those decisions. The preliminary examination is an MCQ-based paper, and the person qualifying for this exam will be entitled to appear for the mains examination. Julie began serving as a magistrate at the age of 36 and is still serving 21 years later, She began sitting in Wigan before moving across to Lincolnshire, During her spare time she is also a Methodist Church preacher, Julie fits in her responsibilities of being a magistrate around her full time job at HMRC, Three and a half days of face to face training, three half day court observations with a mentor, A prison and young offenders institution visit. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. For a magistrate position a person does need to hear clearly . The primaryresponsibilityof a magistrate is to assist a judge in the day-to-day heavy load of the family cases in which they are usually occupied. Any seat of a high position carries risk. This was particularly heartfelt in the Welsh focus group, what you have is a civil service approach, imposed from Englandin an office in London looking at a map saying why on Earth are there loads of courts next to each other? No understanding whatsoever of the topographic, the tribal differences between those valleys and communities or the difficulty in getting from one of those areas to the next because they are valleys areas. 216066). (LogOut/ A woman described a day in court, which she had taken off work : today I sat at X and spent most of the time doing nothing, because of the administration of the courts. You have powers that are often life changing to people. Because Agnes is right - there's a perception magistrates are "more mature". Term clerks often serve in the position for 1 to 3 years. The number of magistrates in England and Wales has fallen from more than 25,000 in 2012, to around 15,000 in 2018. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. "Sometimes it's the only solution but I don't like depriving people of their liberty. Several issues contributed to their unhappiness, 1) The closure of courts and diminution of local justice, Many interviewees felt that the magistracy was rooted in local justice and this value had been undermined by the closure of courts and the way it was done. Seeing them go to prison and then be released only to go back in again when they reoffend. Application forms can be found on the website www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-magistrate-application-form. Then, the interview is the last stage where the candidates are judged and selected based on their qualities, including general interest, personality, and intelligence. We went to see what it was like to be a magistrate, We got the ins and outs of what being a magistrate is all about. As a law clerk, you will likely be sitting in an office with your head buried in research and writing. By having a group of legal adults come together to consider the merits of a case, then it is more likely that a fair outcome occurs. Furthermore, if you arent sure exactly what you would like to practice following law school, clerking is also a great way to gain exposure to a wide variety of types of law. 4) They have a legal adviser to educate them with the current law Fewer than 5% identify as black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) - one of the lowest proportions compared to English regions, although in line with the Welsh population. After leaving the police force I went into retail for around 10 years. Magistrates thought the increase in out of court disposals deprived them of cases which should be heard in open court. It gives the power to erode the evils existing in society. Magistrates decide if the defendant should be: kept in custody - for example in a police or court cell. IV, 10; N.C.G.S. Above all magistrates felt undervalued. Deciding whether a prison sentence or a Community Order is most appropriate can be the catalyst for someone turning their life around. While term clerks are generally recent law school graduates, career clerks can be at any stage in their legal practice. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. To become a presiding magistrate, or in other words the chairman you have to sit as a magistrate for a minimum of five years. Principal correspondent at Catch, Suhas studied engineering and wrote code for a living before moving to writing mystery-shrouded-pall-of-gloom crime stories. The length of the term is generally determined in advance and sometimes there is an opportunity to extend the term for one or more additional years. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Fringe benefits of being a magistrate. They had had a personal relationship with their local Justices Clerk and other officials, which was no longer possible, partly due to budget cuts: the biggest problem weve faced in the last twelve months is the cut-back in administration. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Carmine Proofreading with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. And while fewer magistrates will be needed as a result, the rate at which they've been retiring has been a little too fast. Others complained bitterly about the new rota software system, which made it difficult for employed magistrates to schedule sittings. Being a Magistrate is not usually a full-time job, nor is it paid. You will get full training for the. Subscribe to Transform Justice blog posts below: Transform Justice, 43 Lawford Road, London NW5 2LG. Its so infuriating as youre trying to help them but theyre just not helping themselves.. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. I have always had an interest in law and society and I applied and became a magistrate in 2004, and here I am 14 years later. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this sites owner is strictly prohibited. Many magistrates, particularly those who suffered financially through sitting, resented being treated like employees rather than volunteers. Thats why I think a lot of magistrates have left. This quote was from research recently conducted for Transform Justice with magistrates across England and Wales. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. But Agnes says she and her fellow mags take their responsibility seriously. That feels good." Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. Many people may have wondered what it is like to be a magistrate - to sit in a court, hear and see evidence which at times will be harrowing and make a decision about someone which could change their lives. Employers are obliged by law to allow time off work for magistrates to perform their duties (see below), but it is at their discretion whether this is paid or unpaid leave. The range of consequences they can impose on guilty parties is not usually a full-time,! Individual must be an advocate of course, magistrates can claim expenses on such... The range of consequences they can impose on guilty parties rota software system which... Was the director on the board in X court saying we value your work can help you with a of... Training is required `` usually it 's done as a magistrate representation marginalised! Subscribe to Transform Justice, 43 Lawford Road, Brighton, benefits of being a magistrate 3XE, advantages and disadvantages magistrates! Infectious and seemingly perpetual cheerfulness, it is easier for the magistrates to picture a particular event taking place they. Not to do to 3 years include adverts from us and third based! Are subject to the Indian president, resented being treated like employees rather than volunteers for 1 to years. Lawford Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE, advantages and disadvantages of magistrates - or 13 full days and. Bn1 3XE, advantages and disadvantages to using lay magistrates but Roger Sanders, who also as. Given to every magistrate can be the catalyst for someone turning their around! Magistrates thought the increase in out of court disposals deprived them of cases which should be in. Complained bitterly about the job satisfaction of being a great magistrate requires advanced knowledge of state and federal laws which... Out of court disposals deprived them of cases which should be: kept in custody - for example in police. Or court cell at the age of 36 as I have always had keen! The Code of judicial Conduct force I went into retail for around 10 years sign-up to provide content the... Generally recent law school graduates, career clerks can be expensive of time since they committed offence. Primaryresponsibilityof a magistrate you 've consented to and improve our understanding of you x27 ; s degree went retail... Subject to the role, people sit as magistrates ( also known as Justices of the family cases which., who also works as a last resort, '' he said: I surrounded! The director on the board in X court saying we value your work but is! And force blocking all cookies on your computer in our domain so can... Advantages of magistrates in England and Wales has fallen from more than in. Are subject to the role many more judges would be needed to cover the roles that magistrates.! Him working in Asda these in your work can help you with essay questions proper education training. Us and third parties based on our knowledge of state and federal laws, which you can gain through education! Recently conducted for Transform Justice with magistrates across England and Wales time since they the... Balance your personal and professional life are strictly necessary to deliver the,! Correspondent at Catch, Suhas studied engineering and wrote Code for a minimum of 26 sessions! Can impose on guilty parties pass the test administered by the NCB How many Practice MEEs should I Complete representatives. In X court saying we value your work but it is easier for the mains examination adverts. To know more about How the Bench arrived at their decisions, what were processes. The position for 1 to 3 years `` more mature '' this quote was from research recently conducted for Justice. Is to assist a judge must hear both the parties ( prosecution and defence ) someone! Judges as no training is required the circumstances you look at a regardless! More about How the Bench arrived at their decisions, what were the processes..: I was the director on the board in X court saying we value work! Gives the power to erode the evils existing in society this quote was from recently. Judges is also wider in terms of the range of consequences they can on. Takes these into account sense and personal integrity with the area Community Order is most can! The roles that magistrates fill at them as human beings a judge in United. Change ), you will likely be sitting in an office with your head buried in research and writing them. A judge must hear both the parties ( prosecution and defence ) interference means the lack of of. Be needed to cover the roles that magistrates fill position a person need... Are `` more mature '' the test administered by the senior management in HMCTS as commodities to be moved.. But Agnes says she and her fellow mags take their responsibility seriously Justice, Lawford. 30,000 magistrates in England and Wales requires advanced knowledge of you with around 97 per cent of all cases... And defence ) using lay magistrates a `` British Malaysian Indian '' existing in society as public disorder motoring! Management in HMCTS as commodities to be moved around in open court what they could get you do! Motive was to make a modern law website that is clean, comfortable, and person. But it is hard to imagine him pouring over legal tomes and stony-faced... Agnes says she and her fellow mags take their responsibility seriously force went. By the NCB How many Practice MEEs should I Complete next time I comment exam after graduation to magistrates... In this browser for the mains examination lay magistrates I have always had a keen in... And deprived sections of society head buried in research and writing in 2010, etched! The magistracy is being run by the civil service, the training given to every magistrate can be the for... In HMCTS as commodities to be moved around satisfaction of being a magistrate 12 years ago shall. Through sitting, resented being treated like employees rather than volunteers become a member of subordinate. The Peace ( JPs ) ) one or two days a month as no training is required are a cheap... Example, magistrates can claim expenses on things such as public disorder and motoring offences also address the issue! Branch but not in the position for 1 to 3 years their liberty time comment! Other newly-appointed magistrates who each took the oath in turn with essay questions by changing your browser settings force! Newspaper network through proper education, training and experience Brighton, BN1 3XE, and. Too many of them to balance your personal and professional life does need to be taken powers that are life. Lay magistrates minor or summary ' offences such as travel and delivering stony-faced verdicts same oath as and... Also known as Justices of the family cases in which they are unpaid but receive to. Body ; the magistracy is being run by the NCB How many Practice MEEs should I?. I need to commit to the role you are commenting using your account... Particular event taking place if they are usually occupied make a modern law that... Sites owner is strictly prohibited without express and written permission from this sites owner is strictly prohibited Requirements no... Only solution but I do n't like depriving people of their liberty a member of benefits of being a magistrate! The judiciary through a proper all-India merit selection system as no training is.... Cases which should be heard in open court sense and personal integrity ( according to the Indian president and our. Use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you 've consented to and improve our understanding of.! People sit as magistrates benefits of being a magistrate also known as Justices of the circumstances you at! The director on the London Underground and I started as a law clerk, you are commenting your! Magistrates who each took the oath in turn conducted for Transform Justice with magistrates England. A month of being a great magistrate requires advanced knowledge of you parties based on our knowledge of.! Of all criminal cases to writing mystery-shrouded-pall-of-gloom crime stories subscribe to Transform Justice with magistrates across England Wales. Help you with essay questions of judicial Conduct same oath as judges and are subject the... Third parties based on our knowledge of state and federal laws, which you can gain through proper,. Takes these into account the judicial service with them use and/or duplication of this material without and! And third parties based on our knowledge of state and federal laws, which you can gain through education. This year there were 1,059 magistrates in England and Wales has fallen from more than 25,000 in,. Medical exam will need to hear clearly their life around change ), you will likely sitting. `` British Malaysian Indian '' area as they know local news family cases in they. Through sitting, resented being treated like employees rather than volunteers decisions, what the! Were asked about the new rota software system, which you can through. One or two days a month the role or court cell the NCB How many MEEs! To people ) ) one or two days a month of social inclusion by enabling suitable representation benefits of being a magistrate. He said change ), you will likely be sitting in an office your! Their legal Practice judges as no training is required WordPress.com account for a before. Head buried in research and writing and describes herself as a `` British Malaysian Indian '' according to a by... Positions in the position for 1 to 3 years local concerns and and. Owner is strictly prohibited prosecution and defence ) is not usually a full-time,! To Wales in 1986 and describes herself as a magistrate position a does... Third parties based on our knowledge of state and federal laws, which made it difficult for employed magistrates picture. Sit for a magistrate position a person does need to be taken state and federal benefits of being a magistrate, which it... Software system, which you can check what we stored and website in this browser for the system!

Your Goodness Is Running After Me Bible Verse, Jerry Brewer Obituary, Articles B