Judicial Profiles - Magistrates

Magistrates, also known as Justices of the Peace, are unpaid trained members of their local community. They are based in the approximately 300 magistrates' courts in England and Wales.

All magistrates sit in adult criminal courts as panels of three, mixed in gender, age and ethnicity whenever possible to bring a broad experience of life to the bench. All three members of the panel have equal decision-making powers but only one member, the chairman, speaks in court and presides over proceedings. A qualified legal adviser is available to the panel at all times.

Magistrates do not require legal training. However, all magistrates must undertake a compulsory programme of practical training which prepares them to sit in court.

Each magistrate should sit for at least 26 half-days each year.

About the Magistracy leaflet

This leaflet gives an overview of the work of the magistracy has been produced by the Judicial Communications Office.

Topics summarised in the leaflet include:

  • Who magistrates are

  • Becoming a magistrate

  • What magistrates do in the criminal, civil, family and youth jurisdictions

  • Sentencing

  • Public access to the courts

  • The judicial oath

The leaflet corrects some common misconceptions, especially in the field of sentencing, and increase awareness of the diversity of the magistracy.

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