magistrates lay people

Question 1

what qualifications must a magistrate have
5

Answer 1

-18-74 on appointment retire by 75
-good health
- commit to 26 half days a year and do training on evenings
- work or live within travelling distance
- don’t need legal qualifications but have key qualities

Question 2

disqualifications
5

Answer 2

-criminal convictions
- police and prison officers
- armed forces
- those registered under the mental health act
- relatives of those in the CJS

Question 3

what are the 6 key qualities they look for

Answer 3

good character
maturity and sound temperament
understanding and communication
social awareness
commitment and reliability
sound judgement

Question 4

how are magistrates appointed

Answer 4

they are selected by the advisory committee LAC

Question 5

what is LAC

Answer 5

made up of 12 serving magistrates and people outside the legal system they make recommendations to the LC

try to ensure there’s a balanced bench in terms of gender ethnicity occupation and background

Question 6

what must they do before appointment

Answer 6

answer a series of questions and provide references and they will then sit a 2 stage interview

Question 7

what happens when they are appointed

Answer 7

approved by LC the. sworn in by a senior judge and take the judicial oath at the local magistrates court

Question 8

what happens in the first and second interview

Answer 8

1 looking to see if they have the 6 qualities
2 looks for judicial aptitude by discussing case studies

Question 9

what cases do they hear %

Answer 9

96%

Question 10

how are magistrates described

Answer 10

the workhorse of the criminal justice system

Question 11

what can they sentence

Answer 11

6 months for first time offences 12 months more than one unlimited fine LASPO

Question 12

if a m has specialist training they can sit where

Answer 12

youth court and family court