As the only collective and independent voice of the magistracy, we advocate on behalf of our members and inform others about the vital role of the magistracy.
We speak directly to the senior judiciary, government, MPs, other national bodies, and the media to promote the magistracy and shape policy, on the things that matter to magistrates and our members in the adult, youth and family courts.
This has included: lobbying for additional funding for justice, calling for reform to magistrates’ expenses, raising concerns about the single justice procedure, commenting on the Independent Review of Sentencing and the Leveson Review of the Criminal Courts, raising concerns about the safety and security of magistrates, and calling for big improvements to the poor state of many court buildings.
We achieve our influencing aims by lobbying relevant agencies, representing the magistracy on decision-making groups and committees, conducting research and publishing advocacy reports and position statements, and responding to consultations and calls for evidence. As a member-led charity, all this work is shaped by our five policy committees.
As well as meeting regularly with the Ministry of Justice, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, the Judicial Office, and the Magistrates Leadership Executive to discuss the issues our members tell us matter most to them, we also share our findings and recommendations with and brief ministers, Lords, and Members of Parliament.
At a local and regional level, volunteers from our branches are involved in influencing on a range of policy issues, from recruitment and training to rotas and allocations.
Media engagement is also a key tool in our influencing toolbox. We generate widespread, positive media coverage about the MA and the magistracy, and are a go-to resource for journalists and broadcasters who cover justice-related matters.
Our efforts to raise public awareness about the amazing contribution magistrates make to their communities is perhaps best demonstrated via our Magistrates in the Community initiative. This sees teams of MA members deliver presentations to schools, colleges and community groups across England and Wales on a range of topics from cyberbullying to knife crime to drugs.
All our policy work is developed in consultation with our members to ensure that it reflects their priorities, concerns and on-the-ground experience. We’d love for you to help shape our ongoing and future campaigns. If you’re already a member, you might like to consider:
We obtained government provided training for all magistrates.
We commenced our ongoing efforts to shape sentencing guidelines so that they work for defendants, sentencers and victims.
We influenced the development of this act, which consolidated the procedures applicable in magistrates’ courts.
We made recommendations to the President of the Family Division that resulted in magistrates being included in all aspects of decision-making in the family court.
We successfully campaigning for the discontinuation of this deeply unpopular charge.
We obtained a vital amendment to the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 to ensure that grave crimes can be tried in the youth court.
We influenced government plans to recruit 4,000 new magistrates, to support increased diversity on the bench.
We successfully lobbied for a doubling of magistrates’ sentencing powers, to help reduce court backlogs. These have been temporarily suspended, but we’re pressing for their timely restoration.
We secured an increase in the mandatory retirement age from 70 to 75, to help retain some of our most experienced magistrates on the bench.
We informed the police transformation strategy and Code of Practice on the use of adult OOCDs and prompted a review of the use of OOCDs for children by the Ministry of Justice and Youth Justice Board.
We successfully lobbied the government to improve the accessibility of and better maintain court buildings. The Ministry of Justice has committed £220 million and accessibility will be prioritised.
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The MA is a highly effective voice for magistrates in public, the government and other decision-making bodies. It has made a significant contribution towards improving the provision of justice.
