Today, the Ministry of Justice, the judiciary and HM Courts and Tribunals Service have launched a £1 million recruitment drive encouraging people from all backgrounds to apply to join the magistracy. The campaign seeks to recruit 4,000 new magistrates across England and Wales.
The Magistrates’ Association is supporting the campaign, which it views as a highly positive step towards increasing the diversity of the bench and reducing the backlog of criminal cases that accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic. This comes a week after additional sentencing powers for magistrates were announced in a bid to tackle delays.
Anyone aged 18–70 who has strong communication skills, sound judgement and the ability to volunteer for at least 13 days per year is encouraged to apply for this crucial civic role. Full training and mentoring will be provided, and the Magistrates’ Association has a wealth of resources to support new magistrates.
Find out more and apply at I can be a magistrate.
