O N A N D

SELECTI
M E N T O F L A Y
APPO IN T
MAG I ST R A T E .
ROLES OF THE MAGISTRATE
 Magistrates are selected
from all walks of life.
 Magistrates are not legally

qualified
 They are assisted by a

magistrate clerk who is

legally qualified.
 Magistrate try summary

offences: like speeding

and assault.
 They take preliminary

hearings for all cases.

 BASIC QUALIFICATION OF
MAGISTRATE
 They must be aged 18-65.
 A magistrate must have

good personal qualities

and commitment.
 A magistrate must be in

good health.
 They sit for 26 half days

per year.
 There are over 300

magistrates court over the

UK..
 The lord chancellor sets

out the qualities for being

a lay magistrate
 6 BASIC QUALITIES
 A magistrate must have
these 6 qualities:
 Good character.
 Understanding and

Communication.
 Social awareness.
 Mature and sound

temperament.
 Sound judgment.
 Commitment and

Reliability.
 NOTE BEFORE
 As a magistrate, you
must be impartial.
 Magistrates must swear

an oath of allegiance or
affirm.
 Certain professions are

ineligible e.g.police.
 Any criminal conviction

might disqualify you.

 The public needs to

have confidence in you.

 SELECTION PROCEDURE
 There will campaign to recruit
new magistrates.
 There will be an advert in the

local paper.
 Collect application form from

the ministry of justice website.

 An information pack will be

sent to you containing a D.V.D.

 Eligibility criteria –

qualifications.
 Submit the form to the ministry

of justice.
 The ministry of justice will

check for eligibility

. INTERVIEW PROCESS
 If you eligible enough,
you’ll be called for an
interview.
 The interview will be

based on the 6 key

qualities.
 The local advisory

committee and some

magistrate will be there.
 If you successful, you’ll

be called for the second

interview.
 SECOND INTERVIEW
 There will be more practical
cases to be discussed and role to
play to see how the potential
candidate would decide cases.
 There will be background checks

for conflict of interest.

 The local advisory committee

considers the suitability of the

candidate and consider
vacancies.
 The local advisory committee

sends view to lord chancellor

 LAST SELECTION PROCESS.
 The whole process
takes between 12-18
months.
 The lord chancellor

will appoint you on

behalf of the queen.
 New lay magistrates

meet other
magistrate and begin
their training.