magistrates

Question 1

requirements

Answer 1

• aged between 18-65
• need to live/work in the area
• commit 26 half days a year
• key charecteristics:
  good charecter, understanding and communication, social awareness, maturity and sound temprement, sound judgement, commitment and reliability
• must be able to absorb and retain information
• work as a team
• take into account others reasoning

Question 2

disqualifications

Answer 2

• those with serious crimes
• bankrupt
• members of forces
• reletives of those working in the local criminal justice system
• impaired hearing
• reletives who are on the same bench

Question 3

selection

Answer 3

1) candidate fill in an application form with two references
2) two stage interveiw
3) first stage: personal attributes, 6 key charecteristics
4) second stage: potential judicial aptitude
5) discussion of two case studies

Question 4

role

Answer 4

• criminal and civil cases
• sit as a panel of three
• 97% criminal cases
• grant search and arrest warrent
• summary offences: deal with case start to end, hear evidence, decide sentance
• tribunal either way: deal with plea before venue hearings
• indictable: will hold early hearing before crown court
• youth court: specially trained magistraites hear criminal charges against young offenders
• appeals: can sit in on appeals from magistrate court to the crown court, magistraites form a panel with a qualified judge