The document provides information about becoming a magistrate in the UK. It states that magistrates courts handle approximately 96% of criminal cases and need more magistrates. Being a magistrate has benefits like developing skills and contributing to the community. Magistrates do not need legal backgrounds, sit in panels of three, and make reasonable sentencing decisions by following guidelines. Their role is important as magistrates courts handle less serious summary offences as well as more serious either-way and indictable-only offences.

1. DO YOU WANT TO BE
A MAGISTRATE?

2. Aged between 18 & 70 years old? If so then become a magistrate today!
The courts are in desperate need of magistrates as approximately 96% of criminal cases
begin and end in the magistrates court!
What are the benefits of becoming a magistrate?
 Develop personal skills
 Develop an understanding of the local community
 Gain knowledge of the law
 Gain self-confidence
 Leadership
 Contributing towards the community
 Contribute to upholding the law to make the community a safer place

3. Facts about being a magistrate
Magistrates come from all occupations, from the
unemployed and retired people to pilots and
teachers. Magistrates are ordinary people who
have common sense that are able to listen to
both sides of an argument carefully and are able
to reach a fair decision.
Magistrates DO NOT need any legal background.
Magistrates are the three people who sit at the
front of a court. They are not paid for their services
but may be able to claim expenses. Magistrates
do not come up with the sentencing of an
offender but follow a guideline which is there to
assist them.
(Judicial office (2013)

4. Why are there magistrates?
The Magistrates court needs three Magistrates to sit at the front to make reasonable decisions on
sentencing the offender.
The magistrates court deals with three kinds of cases:
 Summary offences – less serious cases such as motoring
offences.
 Either-way offences – can be dealt with in front of
magistrates or a judge in the crown court. this includes
offences such as theft.
 Indictable-only offences – the more serious offences
such as murder, manslaughter and rape. These types of offences will be heard at a Crown Court.
Without magistrates, the court would not be able to come to a reasonable decision for sentencing
the offender as there would be too many people wanting to take part. With the three magistrates it is
a lot easier to make a decision.

5. How is the Magistrates court set out?
Most courtrooms are similar with the
magistrates bench always at the front
centre of the room. The witness stand,
defendant, clerk of the court, lawyers for
defence and prosecution, court usher
and the viewers will always be there,
although they may be in a different
place than shown.
Some cases that are dealt with in the
magistrates court will be done within a
short period of time as they are less
serious offences, therefore the
sentencing guidelines will be easy for the
magistrates to use.

6. Magistrates have to take the judicial oath when they are sworn in, this is:
 “I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second, in the office of
Justice of the Peace and I will do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of the
realm without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.” (Magistrates association, (2014)
How to apply:
Visit www.gov.uk/become-magistrate
This website has a lot of information and also an application form which can be filled in and sent
off.
Watch this video of ‘becoming a magistrate’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzzZGtnerxU

7. Bibliography
 GIGGS, P. (2014). Magistrates: - representatives of the people? [Online] p.08. Available from:
http://transformjustice.org.uk/main/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Transform-Justice_Magistrates-
Feb14-report2.pdf [Accessed: 16 November 2014]
 Magistrates Association (2014) why become a magistrate?. [Online] Available from:
http://www.magistrates-association.org.uk/about-magistrates/why-become-a-magistrate/
[accessed: 13 November 2014]