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Magistrates' Mid & South Glamorgan Branch So you want to become a Magistrate? |
Main Index | History | Duties | Appointment Who
can become a Magistrate?
Almost anyone can apply but the following will not be appointed:
The Appointment Process – see diagram below Bench Requirements A Balanced Bench The Lord Chancellor requires that each bench should broadly reflect the community it serves in terms of gender, ethnic origin, geographical spread, occupation and political affiliation. Achieving a balance is, however, a secondary consideration to the essential and pre-eminent requirement that a candidate must be personally suitable for appointment, possessing the qualities required in a magistrate. Age The retirement age for magistrates is 70 (JP Act 1997, s.7(2)"). The Lord Chancellor will not generally appoint a candidate under the age of 27 or over the age of 65. The Lord Chancellor has temporarily suspended the requirement that benches should be balanced in terms of age. He is of the view that his policy on age will make it easier for Advisory committees to find more candidates with the appropriate social and political backgrounds and so achieve a more balanced bench. Gender Each bench should have a roughly equal number of men and women. There should be sufficient magistrates of each sex who are eligible to sit in the family proceedings and youth courts, which must be made up of three magistrates and include a man and a woman, unless this is impractical. Ethnic Minorities Advisory committees are making strenuous efforts to recruit suitable candidates from the ethnic minorities. Advisory committees should be aware of the ethnic composition of the area for which they are responsible and seek to recruit sufficient numbers from the ethnic minorities to reflect that composition. Geographical spread Advisory committees should aim to recommend candidates proportionally from the areas for which they are responsible but ensure that there are not too many magistrates on any one bench from the same village, neighbourhood or street. Occupation Advisory committees should seek to recommend for appointment, candidates from a broad spectrum of occupations. No more than 15% of the magistrates on a bench should be from the same occupational group. Political affiliation The political views of a candidate are neither a qualification nor a disqualification for appointment. However, the Lord Chancellor requires, in the interests of balance, that the voting pattern for the area as evidenced by the last two general elections, should be broadly reflected in the composition of the bench. Membership of clubs/organisations including freemasonry It is important that there are not too many magistrates on the bench from the same clubs or organisations. Candidates for the magistracy are specifically asked on the new application form if they are freemasons. If a candidate has completed the old form, they should be asked at interview if they are freemasons. Those recommended for appointment will be required to inform the chairman of the bench or the clerk to the justices if they subsequently become a freemason. The local Advisory committees who advise the Lord Chancellor on the appointment of magistrates in England and Wales welcome applications from people in all walks of life who have the qualities and the time to serve as magistrates. Individuals may put themselves forward for consideration or any person or organisation may recommend a candidate for appointment. Application forms and information on the selection process are available from the Secretary of the Local Advisory Committee at your local Courthouse. To view addresses of the Courthouses in Mid and South Glamorgan CLICK HERE Or alternatively, contact: - Secretary of Commissions Office, Third Floor, Selborne House, 54/60 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QW, Telephone: 0171 210 8990 Before making an application you are strongly advised to visit your local magistrates' court to observe a court in action. |
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