qualifications / elegibility

• Do magistrates need qualifications in law?

  No
• What 6 key qualities should candidates have?

  • Good character
  • Understanding and communication
  • Social awareness
  • Maturity and sound temperament
  • Sound judgement
  • Commitment and reliability
• What certain judicial qualities should magistrates have?

  • They must be able to assimilate factual information
  • Make a reasoned decision upon it
  • Be able to consider the reasoning of others and work as a team
• What are the formal requirements to be a magistrate?

  Must be aged between 18 and 65 on appointment and can sit until they are 70.
• Do many young people sit as magistrates?

  Not many younger people are appointed. Since the age of appointment was reduced in 2003, a few more young magistrates have been appointed.
• Up until 2003, how close did lay magistrates have to live to the commission area for the court in which they sat?

  15 miles
• Which Act abolished commission areas that lay magistrates have to live within 15 miles of?

  The Courts Act 2003
• What did it mean for lay magistrates when commission areas were abolished?

  There was now one commission area for the whole of England and Wales but divided into local justice areas. Magistrates are expected to live or work near to the local justice area to which they are allocated.