Magistrates Qualifications Essay

324 Words2 Pages
Magistrates Qualifications However with the age for appointments being reduced to 18 in 2003 there is an increase in likely hood that young magistrates will be appointed if they are suitable. In 2004 there were at least two appointments of young magistrates. These were of one aged 21 in Shropshire and another aged 23 in Yorkshire. Although magistrates, 4 percent of magistrates are below the age of 40. Before 1906 there was a property qualification which meant that magistrates had to become home owners or tenants of a property that was above a certain value. Also before 1919 the bench was an all male affair with women becoming eligible for appointment only in that year. Area. Up to 2003 it was necessary for a lay magistrate to live within fifteen miles of the commission area for the court which they sat in/ in 2003 the courts act abolished the commission areas instead there is now one commission for every area for the whole of England and Wales. However the country divided into local justice area these areas are specified by the Lord Chancellor and lay magistrates are expected to live or work within or near the local justice area to which they are allocated. Commitment. The other requirement is that lay magistrates are prepared to commit themselves to sitting at least 26 half days a year this is quite an onerous commitment and does prevent some people from applying to become a magistrate. Restriction on appointment. Some people aren’t eligible to be appointed there include people with serious criminal convictions though a conviction for a minor motoring offence will not automatically disqualify a candidate. Others who are disqualified include undischarged bankrupt, members of the forces, and those whose work is incompatible with sitting as a magistrate such as polic officers and traffic wardens. Relatives of those working in the local criminal justice
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