Chapter 5: The role of the citizen within the legal system - Magistrates

Question 1

What are magistrates also referred to as?

Answer 1

Magistrates are also referred to as Justices of the Peace (JPs)

Question 2

Magistrates

Answer 2

Magistrates are citizens from the local community who volunteer to administer justice in their local Magistrates’ Court

Question 3

Magistrates are citizens from the local community who volunteer to administer justice in their local Magistrates’ Court.
What do they not have to have?

Answer 3

Magistrates do not have to have a legal background

Question 4

How do people apply to become magistrates?

Answer 4

Advertisements appear in the local press for people to apply to become magistrates

Question 5

How do magistrates sit?

Answer 5

Magistrates sit as a ‘bench’ made up of 3 magistrates

Question 6

Where do all criminal cases start?

Answer 6

All criminal cases start in a Magistrates’ Court

Question 7

All criminal cases start in a Magistrates’ Court.

What happens to the most serious cases?

Answer 7

The most serious cases are referred to the Crown Court

Question 8

Over 90% of all cases what?

Answer 8

Over 90% of all cases:
1. Start
2. Are dealt with in
a Magistrates’ Court

Question 9

Magistrates deal with crimes such as what?

Answer 9

Magistrates deal with crimes such as:

1. Minor assaults
2. Motoring offences
3. Theft
4. Handling stolen goods

Question 10

What can Magistrates do in terms of punishments?

Answer 10

Magistrates can:

1. Give out fines up to £5,000 per offence
2. Give out community orders
3. Send an offender to prison for 6 months, or 12 months for more than one crime

Question 11

Magistrates deal with crimes such as minor assaults, motoring offences, theft and handling stolen goods.
Magistrates also deal with some civil cases such as what?

Answer 11

Magistrates also deal with some civil cases such as:

1. Unpaid council tax
2. TV licence non-payment
3. Child custody and adoption cases
4. Cases involving taking children into care

Question 12

What can cases involving the care of young people only be heard by?

Answer 12

Cases involving the care of young people can only be heard by magistrates who have had specialist training

Question 13

How long have Magistrates existed for?

Answer 13

Magistrates have existed for over 600 years

Question 14

How many lay magistrates are there currently?

Answer 14

There are currently 30,000 lay magistrates

Question 15

There are currently 30,000 lay magistrates.

What are almost half?

Answer 15

Almost half are women

Question 16

Each year, how many new magistrates are appointed?

Answer 16

Each year, about 1,600 new magistrates are appointed

Question 17

When hearing a case, who are magistrates supported by?

Answer 17

When hearing a case, magistrates are supported by a professional legal advisor called the Court Clerk Legal Advisor

Question 18

Magistrates are citizens from the local community who volunteer to administer justice in their local Magistrates’ Court.
Magistrates do not have to have a legal background, because what?

Answer 18

Magistrates do not have to have a legal background, as training is provided once they are selected

Question 19

Magistrates sit as a ‘bench’ made up of 3 magistrates.

They can also sit alongside a what?

Answer 19

Magistrates can also sit alongside a district judge