The Magistrates’ Association has broadly welcomed today’s new MoJ data on the recruitment of new magistrates, but, with more people leaving the magistracy than last year, it has warned that more work is needed to ensure that magistrates are recognised and rewarded, to boost retention.
Catherine Feast, Chief Executive of the Magistrates’ Association, said:
“Magistrates are the backbone of our justice system and it is good news we are seeing record numbers being appointed. Although it is early days, these figures do indicate that the improvements being made to the speed and efficiency of magistrate recruitment, as part of the magistrate uplift programme, may be working.
“It can’t be taken in isolation, however, as at the same time hundreds of magistrates left the bench, meaning that despite the boost from recruitment the net increase in magistrate numbers was only just over 600.
“Understanding the reasons why people are leaving is key here so that measures can be put in place to help retain magistrates – something important for long term stability.”
The MoJ’s data shows that a record number – 1,657 magistrates – were appointed between April 2025 and April 2026. The MoJ’s figures also show that an additional 655 new recruits joined in the first quarter of 2026/27 and although this data is from just one quarter, they indicate that the improvements being made to the speed and efficiency of magistrate recruitment, as part of the magistrate uplift programme, may be working.
However, if magistrate recruitment and departures were to continue at this rate, it would take just over nine years to reach the MoJ’s target of 21,000 sitting magistrates.
The data also revealed some good news on the diversity of the magistracy, with 25 per cent of applicants in the year coming from Black, Asian and Global Majority backgrounds. While this is almost the same as last year (26%), the success rate of this group is higher, with 18 per cent of appointments, up from just 13 per cent last year.
Following today’s release, the Magistrates’ Association is calling for a renewed focus on removing barriers to recruitment and retention, including:
- Reforming the magistrates’ expenses system so that no one is left out of pocket for volunteering. Our report It Shouldn’t Cost to Volunteer shows the current system disproportionately affects younger magistrates and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.
- Greater flexibility in sitting arrangements for magistrates, including half-day sittings, to make it easier for working-age people and those with caring responsibilities to sit.
- A Magistrates’ Volunteer Charter, as we proposed in our Magistrates Matter report, to codify magistrates’ rights and responsibilities and strengthen the volunteering offer.
- A comprehensive magistrates’ recruitment and retention strategy, including targeted outreach to underrepresented communities (again, we’ve proposed this in our Magistrates Matter report).
