13-Lay people: Lay magistrates

Question 1

What is a ‘lay magistrates’?

Answer 1

Unpaid, part-time judges who have no legal quals and hear cases in the Magistrates’ Courts.

Question 2

Unpaid, part-time judges who have no legal quals and hear cases in the Magistrates’ Courts.

What is this a definition of?

Answer 2

Lay Magistrates

Question 3

Age limits for Magistrates?

Answer 3

18-65 for appointment

Can work up to 70

Question 4

What are the commitments for a lay Magistrate?

Answer 4

26 half days a year

Question 5

What are some restrictions on appointment as a Magistrate?

Answer 5

1) Previous serious criminal convictions
2) Undischarged bankruptcy
3) Armed Forces

Question 6

What category of offences do the Magistrates’ deal with?

Answer 6

Summary

and

some triable-either-way

Question 7

How qualified and what does a Magistrates’ clerk do?

Answer 7

1) Qualified barrister or solicitor for at least 5 years.

2) Guide the Magistrate on questions of law