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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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Nuffield Family Justice Observatory logo
  • Family court matters

Children’s voice and participation in family law proceedings

In this blog, Jude Eyre, Associate Director at the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory shares the findings of their research into children’s voice and participation in family law proceedings. She also shares valuable resources for children, parents and guardians, and members of the judiciary.
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A photo of Tom Franklin, the Magistrates' Association's chief executive
  • Wider justice system

Influencing the Independent Sentencing Review

In this blog, Tom Franklin the MA's chief executive, discusses the work we've done to shape the Independent Sentencing Review, which was published on 22 May 2025.
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Text reads: guest blog, Cat Linton. It is accompanied by Cat's photo.
  • Modern slavery and exploitation

The Modern Slavery Act a Decade On: Survivors Still Criminalised, Not Protected

In this guest blog, Cat Linton, anti-trafficking policy officer at Hibiscus Initiatives, reflects on the findings of their recent briefing in collaboration with After Exploitation, on the criminalisation of modern slavery survivors.
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Text reads: guest blog, Dr Xavier L'Hoiry. It is accompanied by Xavier's photo.
  • Practicalities of being a magistrate

Do young magistrates feel they belong in the magistracy?

Dr Xavier L'Hoiry has blogged about the findings of his research on the experiences of young magistrates aged under 40. While some of his findings and perspectives are specific to that age group, many of the feelings, experiences and challenges faced by younger magistrates will chime with older readers too.
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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 in a court. Copyright Philip Wolmuth
  • 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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