Retired Member Christmas Lunch
Our upcoming retired members’ event will be the annual Christmas lunch on Tuesday 16 December 2025. The Bunch of Grapes in London has been booked from 12.30-4pm. We anticipate this will be an afternoon full of good food, conversation and Christmas cheer.
New magistrate event Powerpoint presentation
These slides can be adapted by your branch to personalise your presentation. These contain guidance on how to present and how to promote the MA. Please contact [email protected] to have the slides sent to you.
- Volunteer only
Trustees’ Week 2025: What it means to be a trustee
To celebrate Trustees' Week, Tracy Sortwell JP tells us about her role as a trustee at the MA and what she’s passionate about.
- Family court matters
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
Latest Updates for Magistrates: October 2025
Read our latest updates from across the justice system. This month we look at the public understanding of sentencing, youth justice out of court disposals and the Family Court Review and Reporting Mechanism (FCRRM) pilot. Just for MA members.
- Adult court matters
- Family court matters
- Youth court matters
Breaking Barriers in the City of London
MA member Andrew Phillips JP has served as a magistrate for almost 15 years. In this blog, he shares his recent appointment as the first Black West Indian-born Master of the Worshipful Company of Firefighters. This piece originally appeared in the Black History Month UK 2025 magazine.
- Diversity, disparity and inclusion
Challenges and Opportunities for Magistrates from Black, Asian and global majority backgrounds
In this blog, MA member Sarah Sawyerr JP (Black, Asian and global majority network representative on the MA's Diversity and inclusion committee) shares her reflections on the MA's recent event highlighting the challenges and opportunities for magistrates from Black, Asian and global majority backgrounds.
- Diversity, disparity and inclusion
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
- Wider justice system
Karen Canner – Making honours nominations
You should attend this webinar to hear Karen Canner from the Ministry of Justice explain the guidelines and procedures for nominating magistrates for Honours, like an OBE or MBE.
- Wider justice system
Family Policy Special Webinar
Join this webinar to hear from members of the MA’s Family Court Committee and policy team about current policy work in the family court, get involved with discussion of future issues, and put your questions to the committee. Please note this event is on Monday 3 November, and not 5 November as we said in an email to members.
- Family court matters
My 25-year voluntary career
To mark Black History Month UK, we've republished Abiola Onatade's blog on her experiences volunteering as a magistrate for over two decades. This blog was originally published in 2023 and has been amended to bring it up-to-date.
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
Latest updates for magistrates: September 2025
From the new Sentencing Bill to improving family court services, read the latest of our handy monthly looks at the latest updates from across the justice system - just for MA members.
- Adult court matters
- Family court matters
- Youth court matters
MA comments on the growing court backlogs
The Magistrates' Association has responded to today's MoJ criminal court statistics quarterly, which showed increases in crown and magistrate court backlogs.
- Wider justice system
In praise of magistrates
In this blog, Minister of State for Justice Sarah Sackman MP celebrates the work of the magistracy and magistrates' vital role in the criminal justice system. This originally appeared in the Autumn 2025 edition of our magazine.
- Wider justice system
New trustees elected to the MA board
Our members have elected three trustees out of a field of 13 candidates. Read on to find out more about who was elected.
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
#LookCloser to identify victims of child exploitation
In this guest blog, Rosie Plummer, the North Service Manager on the Children's Society's Prevention Programme highlights the opportunities we can have to identify victims of exploitation in court and to supportively engage with them.
- Modern slavery and exploitation
- Youth court matters
Independent Monitoring Board Webinar
The Independent Monitoring Boards (IMBs) play a vital role in ensuring that people in prisons, immigration removal centres, and short-term holding facilities are treated fairly and with dignity. This webinar offers a unique opportunity to learn more about the work of IMB volunteers and understand how you could make a meaningful difference.
- Diversity, disparity and inclusion
- Wider justice system
David Lammy appointed Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary
The Magistrates’ Association comments on today’s Government reshuffle, which saw the arrival of Rt Hon David Lammy MP as the new Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary.
- Wider justice system
Quarter of magistrates feel unsafe in court, survey reveals
Serious concerns about safety and security have been highlighted in a ground-breaking survey by the Magistrates’ Association, with one in four magistrates reporting they have felt unsafe carrying out their duties in court.
- Adult court matters
- Family court matters
- Youth court matters
Magistrates’ Association comments on Sentencing Bill
The Magistrates’ Association has cautiously welcomed the Sentencing Bill – presented to Parliament on 2 September.
- Wider justice system
Safety and security in the magistrates’ courts
In April 2025, we surveyed members to understand their thoughts and experiences relating to their safety and security inside and outside the magistrates’ courts. To our knowledge, this is the first survey of its kind put to the lay judiciary. The report makes for concerning reading and we've made 20 recommendations for change.
- Adult court matters
- Family court matters
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
- Youth court matters
Latest updates for magistrates: August 2025
From youth policy to AI in the justice system, read our handy look at the latest updates from across the justice system - just for MA members.
- Adult court matters
- Family court matters
- Youth court matters
