Magistrates

Magistrates are also known as justices of the peace.

Just under 29,000 lay magistrates in England and Wales.

Unpaid except for expenses.

Roughly equal numbers of men and women, meant to be representitive of society.

Must sit for 26 half days a year

Sit on a bench of three and have a role in all criminal cases in some way.

They deal with the entire criminal case in 95% cases

There are some full time paid magistrates, these are called district judges (DJ)

Qualifications and Eligibility:

Magistrates…