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Blogs

Our blogs share the perspectives and views of our members, volunteers and staff on issues relating to the magistracy and wider justice system. We also publish guest pieces from organisations with fresh perspectives on relevant topics. Use the search box or filters to find what you're looking for.

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Text reads: member blog, Andrew Reece. It is accompanied by Andrew's photo.
  • Family court matters

Social workers and the family courts

In this blog, Andrew Reece JP shares how his experience as a social worker informs his work as a family magistrate and suggests magistrates and social workers have plenty to learn from each other.
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Rob on the BBC2 quiz show Only Connect
  • Practicalities of being a magistrate

Quizzing all the way to the final

Rob Sassoon, Secretary of Hertfordshire MA, has blogged about his appearance on the BBC2 quiz show Only Connect.
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Text reads: guest blog, Dr Alison Heydari. It is accompanied by Dr Heydari's photo.
  • Adult court matters
  • Wider justice system
  • Youth court matters

Out-of-Court Resolutions – The Opportunity is NOW!

In this guest blog, Dr Alison Heydari, a Temporary Deputy Assistant Commissioner within the Metropolitan Police Service and the National Police Chiefs' Council Chief Officer Lead for out-of-court resolutions (OOCRs), discusses the new two-tier+ OOCRs framework.
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Westminster Magistrates' Court
  • Wider justice system

A significant constraint on magistrates’ court capacity: the legal adviser shortage

Our chief executive, Tom Franklin, has blogged about the shortage of availability of legal advisers, and how this could threaten the potential for magistrates to play a major role in reducing the crown court backlog.
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Text reads: member blog, Nick Haynes. It is accompanied by Nick's photo.
  • Family court matters

My first-hand experience of Pathfinder in Wales

The Magistrates’ Association (MA) welcomes the recent expansion of the Pathfinder Scheme in the family courts, but how these work may be unfamiliar to many. In this blog, Nick Haynes JP, a member of the MA’s family court committee, shares his first-hand experience of Pathfinder in Wales.
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An MA member holding her award above her head and smiling.

MA Award winners 2024

In November 2024 we held our annual general meeting, conference and award ceremony. There were ten awards up for grabs and, in this blog for our members, we share more details of who won what award, and how they achieved their success.
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Text reads: guest blog, Miranda Paris
  • Adult court matters

Systems shift for our criminal courts

In this blog, Miranda Paris, Communications Officer at the Centre for Justice Innovation, argues that reviewing the Single Justice Procedure and improving how the court fine system works will help to make the justice system fairer and more effective for those in contact with it.
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Baroness Carr, the Lady Chief Justice, standing at the podium during her talk the MA's 2023 conference
  • Adult court matters
  • Family court matters
  • Wider justice system

Key takeaways for magistrates from our conference

There was important news for magistrates, on issues that we’ve long campaigned for, at our national conference which we held in November 2024. In this blog, exclusively for our members, we reveal what these are, including a commitment to look at magistrates' expenses.
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Text reads: member interview, Paul Bland. It is accompanied by Paul's photo.

An interview with Paul Bland

This month we sat down with Paul Bland, a retired magistrate, to find out more – in his own words – about his role as Mayor of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk.
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Text reads: member blog, Sheila Chingono. It is accompanied by Sheila's photo.
  • Diversity, disparity and inclusion

Life after stroke

As we approach the end of UK Disability History Month, MA member Sheila Chingono talks about her life after a stroke and gives some advice on how disabled magistrates could be better supported.
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An image of member Dawn Gibbons. The text reads: Member Blog, Dawn Gibbons
  • Knife and weapon crime

Tackling knife crime, one school at a time

In this member blog, London magistrate Dawn Gibbons talks about knife crime and her work in south London schools that helps to raise awareness of this important issue among young people.
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Magistrates
  • Diversity, disparity and inclusion
  • Practicalities of being a magistrate

Half-day sittings: towards a more diverse magistracy

Following the publication of our new position statement, Janet Lallysmith, our Training, Learning and Development Officer, explains why we feel half-day sittings should be available to all magistrates, and the benefits this would bring to the magistracy.
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Sentencing Academy logo
  • Adult court matters
  • Wider justice system

What do the public know about prisons?

Dr Jonathan Bild, Deputy Director of the Sentencing Academy, reflects on the findings of their recent survey on the public’s knowledge of the prison population and the purpose of imprisonment.
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David Rose is next to a Limbless Association banner
  • Diversity, disparity and inclusion

My experience of campaigning on disability issues over four decades

For UK Disability History Month, David Rose JP, one of the disabled representatives of our diversity and inclusion committee, shares his experiences of campaigning on disability issues.
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A Black woman is stressed.
  • Diversity, disparity and inclusion

Open to all? The experience of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic magistrates

A round-up of our recent ‘Open to all? Bias in the Magistracy’ event, written by its host, Jacqui MacDonald-Davis, one of our deputy national chairs.
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Mark Beattie
  • Practicalities of being a magistrate
  • Wider justice system

Looking back on two years as your national chair

Mark Beattie took up the role of the national chair of the Magistrates' Association on 15 October 2022. In this blog, he reflects on the last two years under his leadership and shares what is on the horizon for the year ahead.
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Text reads: member blog, Abayomi Dada. It is accompanied by Abayomi's photo.
  • Diversity, disparity and inclusion
  • Practicalities of being a magistrate

Giving Back to the Community

For Black History Month, one of our members, Abayomi Dada JP shares why it is important for him to give back to his community.
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Text reads: member blog, Donna Clarke. It is accompanied by Donna's photo.
  • Diversity, disparity and inclusion
  • Practicalities of being a magistrate

Be the representation that you want to see

For Black History Month, one of our members, Donna Clarke JP, shares her experience on the bench and why she encourages people from minority groups to apply for the role.
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An award winner with her trophy at our 2018 conference
  • Wider justice system

Six reasons to attend our annual conference on 23 November

Our annual general meeting, conference and awards ceremony will be held online on 23 November, exploring the subject of ‘Solutions not sticking plasters: fixing the long-term challenges in the justice system’
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Text reads: guest blog, Caroline. It is accompanied by Caroline's photo.
  • Wider justice system

A journey of recovery through the mental health treatment requirement

In this blog, Caroline shares how the Mental Health Treatment Requirement has played a pivotal role in her recovery and how it can be far more effective than short-term prison sentences.
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