What do our diversity and inclusion networks do?
Our networks provide opportunities for magistrates from underrepresented groups to connect with their peers and focus on issues that are important to them. We facilitate this via regular online drop-ins held in the early evenings. These meetings also enable network members to raise issues directly with their representatives on the diversity and inclusion committee.
Current priorities
- Influencing the Ministry of Justice to provide better data on judicial diversity, especially around Black, Asian and minority ethnic magistrates and LGBT+ magistrates
- Influencing HMCTS and the Ministry of Justice to better meet the accessibility needs of disabled magistrates, following our ‘Inaccessible courts: a barrier to justice’ report
- Advocating on magistrates’ expenses following our ‘It shouldn’t cost to volunteer’ report
- Advocating for flexible sitting arrangements, including half-day sittings, to enable more employed people to become magistrates.
Joining a network
All members who are under 40 years of age are included in the young magistrates’ network upon joining the MA. Membership of other networks is via completing a diversity monitoring form and indicating that you identify with one or more network’s characteristics.
Our networks
The network feeds into the MA’s diversity and inclusion committee. Your representatives are Dawn Gibbons JP and Sarah Sawyerr JP, who can be contacted via [email protected].
The network feeds into the MA’s diversity and inclusion committee. Your representatives are Nicky Holland JP (Chair of the diversity and inclusion committee) and David Rose JP, who can be contacted via [email protected]
The network feeds into the MA’s diversity and inclusion committee. Your representatives are Michael Hassell and Maz Edwards JP (Deputy Chair of the diversity and inclusion committee), who can be contacted via [email protected]
The network feeds into the MA’s diversity and inclusion committee. Your representatives are Charlotte Fordyce JP and Haris Ifraz JP (Deputy Chair of the diversity and inclusion committee), who can be contacted via [email protected]
The MA has given young magistrates a vital platform to spread the word about the issues that are important to us and has provided a safe space for us to connect with other magistrates and build a case for change.
Former deputy chair of the young magistrates' network