The government is launching a drive to recruit thousands of new volunteers to serve as magistrates in England and Wales, as it seeks to get a grip of the courts backlog.
More than 2,000 magistrates have been trained since 2022, and ministers want to recruit the same number again over the next financial year, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) says.
The recruitment effort is part of the government’s bid to reduce the backlog and speed up justice for victims, and comes on the heels of the announcement of a series of reforms – including controversial plans to limit jury trials.
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy said: “Magistrates play a vital role in our court system – hearing thousands of cases across every jurisdiction and delivering justice.
“They are everyday heroes – and we need more people of every age and background to volunteer not just to deliver justice but to serve and represent their local communities.
“Volunteering to become a magistrate can make a real difference to your life and the lives of others – that’s why I’m calling on the public to apply and play your part.”
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The Magistrates’ Association said the move was a “big vote of confidence” in magistrates, but more resources are needed for the courts, including enough trained, well-paid legal advisers, and repairing crumbling court buildings.
What’s expected of new recruits?
Magistrates are expected to volunteer at least 13 days a year to hear cases, and judiciary bosses are seeking candidates with good communication skills, a sense of fairness and the ability to see an argument from different sides.
New recruits are wanted across criminal, youth, and civil and family proceedings, and have specialist legal advisers to support them to deal with a range of cases.
According to the latest figures from the MoJ, 57% of magistrates are female and 14% come from an ethnic minority background, aside from London where it is the highest proportion of 31%.
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Shadow justice minister Kieran Mullan welcomed efforts to recruit more magistrates, but said it “cannot paper over the failings of a justice secretary and Labour government that has consistently failed to deliver meaningful reform.”
The senior Tory described the previously announced plans to scrap jury trials as “reckless”, and warned it “risks undermining public confidence”.
The drive to recruit new magistrates comes after Mr Lammy announced a series of proposals last month to overhaul the courts, including increasing magistrates’ sentencing powers up to 18 months’ imprisonment, up from 12 months currently, so they will be able to deal with more serious cases.
But the most controversial of the planned reforms is to remove the right to a jury trial for defendants who are likely to get a sentence of three years or less.
It has sparked concerns across the political spectrum, and 38 Labour MPs have come out publicly against the move, describing it in a letter to the prime minister as an “ineffective way” of dealing with the backlog, although it is understood that more are privately opposed as well.
