What roles are there within the magistrates court?
The characters in a magistrates court
- Magistrates. Depending on the matter being heard there will be between one and five magistrates sitting.
- The court clerk.
- The usher.
- The police.
- Advocates for prosecution and defence.
- Probation and court welfare services.
- The press.
- Members of the public.
Who sits in a magistrates court?
What is a magistrate? Magistrates (also called Justices of the Peace) are ordinary people who hear cases in court in their community. They sit in benches of three, including two ‘wingers’ and one who sits in the centre who has received special training to act as chair, known as the Presiding Justice.
What cases are dealt with in the magistrates court?
Magistrates deal with three kinds of cases:
- Summary offences. These are less serious cases, such as motoring offences and minor assaults, where the defendant is not usually entitled to trial by jury.
- Either-way offences.
- Indictable-only offences, such as murder, manslaughter, rape and robbery.
How much do magistrates earn UK?
Magistrates are not paid, but many employers allow their employees time off with pay. If you lose out on pay, you can claim an allowance at a set rate, as well as allowances for travel and subsistence. Find out more about magistrates’ allowances.
What punishments can magistrates give?
Magistrates have sentencing powers that allow them to impose a range of sentences, including unlimited fines, bans, community orders and up to six months’ custody for a single offence and 12 months in total.
Is there a dress code for magistrates court?
There is no formal dress code for defendants attending Court, and you should wear appropriate and comfortable clothing.
Do magistrates get an allowance?
Expenses can cover certain costs, including travel and subsistence where required. Magistrates who suffer a loss of earnings as a result of their duties can claim a loss allowance, usually at a set rate; evidence of financial loss must be provided before magistrates can make a claim. …
How do I find out where magistrates court cases are?
From today (1 September 2020), the public and legal professionals can view magistrates’ court listings online on Courtserve. Courtserve will provide an additional method for the public to find out where, when and how magistrates’ court cases are taking place, bringing magistrates’ courts in line with other jurisdictions.
When do Magistrates Court lists go online UK?
Magistrates’ court lists in England and Wales will be published online for the first time, making it easier to access listing information. From today (1 September 2020), the public and legal professionals can view magistrates’ court listings online on Courtserve.
How does EFAS work in the Magistrates Court?
The Electronic Filing Appearance System (EFAS) helps the Magistrates’ Court organise daily court lists by providing an online system for lawyers to complete key tasks. EFAS has the ability to electronically: track court cases.
How do I get a list of single Justice Procedure Cases?
Single Justice Procedure lists are already published online. If a list for a specific court is not published, this might be because there are no sittings, you may, in that case, wish to contact the court to confirm. If you have questions about any of the listed cases you need to contact the relevant court direct.