The Magistrates’ Association (MA) has a new national chair and three deputy chairs. They will take up post immediately after the MA’s annual general meeting (AGM) on 22 November 2025.
Nominations were sought from eligible candidates in June. One candidate, David Ford, was nominated for national chair and three candidates, Jacqui MacDonald-Davis, Sarah Clarke, and Val Castell were nominated for the deputy chair positions. The board of trustees has decided to increase the number of deputy roles from two to three, to take account of the heavy policy workload at present. All candidates have, therefore, been elected unopposed.
David Ford currently serves as the MA’s deputy chair, having held that role since 2022. A magistrate since 1994, David sits as a presiding justice in both adult and youth courts in Cardiff. He has held a range of leadership roles including Deputy Chair of the Cardiff and Vale bench, Youth Panel Chair of the Cardiff bench, and member of the South Wales Justices’ Training, Approvals, Authorisations and Appraisal Committee. He is also a mentor and appraiser. David will be the MA’s first Welsh national chair since 1970.
David has been an active member of the MA for many years, with particular contributions in youth justice and finance. He co-chaired the MA’s youth court committee which he has been a member of since 2008, and now serves on our finance and audit committee. He joined the MA board in 2018, and previously served as a branch executive. Professionally, David spent over 20 years in senior management in the hospitality and logistics sectors before establishing his own businesses in recruitment, property and finance.
Sarah Clarke has been a magistrate since 2004 and sits in both the adult and youth courts. She joined the MA board in 2019 and also serves on our finance and audit committee, and as deputy chair of the MA’s youth court committee. She was also a member of the MA’s judicial and court management committee, chaired our Buckinghamshire branch, and coordinated Buckinghamshire county’s mock trials.
Sarah has volunteered extensively for the magistracy, having served as a bench chair, a deputy chair of the youth panel, a member of the specialist domestic violence panel, a magistrate adviser to the Thames Valley Out of Court Disposal Scrutiny Panel, a mentor and an appraiser. Currently, she is a member of the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office Disciplinary Panel. Outside the magistracy, Sarah runs her own technology business.
Jacqui MacDonald-Davis has been deputy chair for three years and was a member of the MA’s board of trustees for three years prior to that. She became a magistrate in 2005 and is Deputy Chair of the Central London bench. She was previously chair of the MA’s Black, Asian and minority ethnic network and an executive member of our Central and North London branch. She has also been deputy chair of the MA’s training, learning and development committee.
Jacqui has served as an advisory committee member, an appraiser, a mentor, and an independent panel member for the Judicial Appointments Commission. She was awarded an OBE in January 2025 for her service to the administration of justice.
Jacqui currently works for Health Education England, supporting the wellbeing of trainee medical clinicians (particularly those with learning difficulties). She is a qualified teacher and has worked as a lecturer, a consultant, and head of staff and organisational development.
Val Castell has been a magistrate since 2002 and sits in both adult and youth courts. A former Bench Chair for Avon and Somerset, she now serves as Regional Youth Lead and chairs the MA’s youth courts committee.
Val joined the MA’s adult court committee in 2010 and, having been deputy to two previous chairs, served as the committee’s chair from 2018 to 2024. She was the MA lead for women offenders from 2011 to 2018, formulating MA policy and representing the association at several fora. She joined her local branch executive committee in 2005 and has served as secretary, acting chair, council member and Judicial Business Group representative.
Val used to work in IT, managing projects and designing systems, but left full-time work to manage family commercial property lets. She is now nearly retired and enjoys playing netball, sailing and organising the village maypole dancing.
The MA’s national chair-elect David Ford said:
“I’m honoured to be the Magistrates’ Association’s national chair-elect. I’ll be taking over from the dynamic Mark Beattie when his term ends in November. As one of Mark’s deputies, I’ve seen first-hand the enormous impact he’s had over the past three years. His energy and attention to detail have been remarkable, and the MA continues to benefit from his leadership. Mark has been an inspirational communicator, raising engagement with members and increasing the MA’s profile in the media. I share his commitment to connecting with individual members and branches and will keep building on that momentum.
“Initiatives like the MA’s response to the LJA consultation, the “Magistrates Matter” report, and popular webinars show the quality of our work. Position statements, such as on half-day sittings, have strengthened the voice of magistrates and clarified key concerns. Our learning resources, like MA learn and Social Media Guidance, are helping magistrates perform at their best. Externally, Mark – with strong support from our chief executive Tom Franklin and the board – has deepened relationships beyond the magistracy. I’m committed to continuing that work.
“We may face major, even generational, changes in the magistracy in the months ahead. Mark and I will work closely to ensure a smooth handover and that members’ concerns are clearly heard. Our response to the sentencing review, which has been shaped by your input, will follow soon.”
No fewer than 12 people have put themselves forward for the three vacancies on the MA’s board of trustees. This is great news, because it shows that members want to help run the MA and that our democratic model is valued by members. Our members will vote for their preferred candidates in elections for these vacancies, which will take place in August and September.
The AGM will take place alongside our flagship annual event, our conference and awards ceremony. Subject matter experts will be joining us to discuss the topic of victims’ voice in courts. To find out more and register please click here.
