Half-day sittings

Our new position statement on half-day sittings is based on our members’ experiences and views. There is considerable variation between benches about accommodating requests for half-day sittings, with some benches allowing them and some not. Half-day sittings enable magistrates with additional commitments like employment, young children, or caring responsibilities to sit – likewise for many disabled magistrates, who may find it difficult to sit for a full day. Our position statement advances a case for half-day sittings being available to all magistrates – an arrangement that we feel would improve individual experiences for some magistrates and benefit the magistracy as a whole.