Local Justice Areas and Governance consultations
Consultations on changes to Local Justice Areas and on the administration of the magistracy ran from 31 March to 23 June 2025. The official response to the Local Justice Areas consultation was published on Tuesday 24 March 2026. Here is everything you need to know.
RIP local justice? Let’s hope not!
Join us in Birmingham on 25 November to discuss this timely question.
- Wider justice system
Delay in the consultation on the abolition of local justice areas
Magistrates' Association welcomes this delay if it is used wisely.
- Wider justice system
Local Justice Areas consultation: what branches can do?
We’d like all MA branches to take a number of steps to help during this consultation period.
Local Justice Areas consultation launched
The consultation on changes to Local Justice Areas (LJA) and the administration of the magistracy, was launched on Monday 31 March. Please visit our consultation web page, which has everything you need to know about the consultation and how to have your say on it before it closes on Monday 23 June.
- Wider justice system
Reforms to Local Justice Areas position statement
While we support reform that delivers greater efficiency and better outcomes, we are concerned that the proposals in the Local Justice Areas consultation lack a cohesive vision, apply a one-size-fits-all model, and risk weakening the core principles of local justice. We fear they may damage morale and lead to resignations, undermining efforts to grow magistrate numbers and reduce court backlogs.
- Adult court matters
- Family court matters
- Youth court matters
Local Justice Area consultation outcome
A joint consultation by the Ministry of Justice and Judicial Office on the reform of Local Justice Areas started in early 2025. Following submissions by the MA, our members and branches, benches, and other stakeholders, the government issued its response in March 2026. This briefing summarises the consultation response, proposal by proposal, alongside our recommendations and final decisions.
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
Reforms to Local Justice Areas submission
Our response to this consultation reflects extensive engagement with our members across England and Wales, including with our five policy committees and representatives from all 53 local MA branches. Their input has been central to shaping our approach - that the post-LJA magistracy must be local and rooted in place, shaped with magistrates, based on consent and goodwill, and built for the future.
- Wider justice system
Candidates for the MA’s Board of Trustees announced
13 candidates. Three vacancies. Your vote counts. This year’s trustee election is the most hotly contested in years, with a record 13 members standing for the board. Find out who’s standing and get ready to vote from 18 August.
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
What the election manifestos say about justice
In this blog, our chief executive, Tom Franklin, talks about what the main parties' general election manifestos say about justice, policing and the courts.
- Wider justice system
MA calls for open approach to justice data
The MA has warned that a lack of accessible, useable justice data in England and Wales is undermining public confidence in justice and causing policy decisions to be made without full evidence.
- Wider justice system
The challenges of open justice
Subject matter experts discussed open justice at this year’s annual conference.
- Wider justice system
Key takeaways for magistrates from our conference
There was important news for magistrates, on issues that we’ve long campaigned for, at our national conference which we held in November 2024. In this blog, exclusively for our members, we reveal what these are, including a commitment to look at magistrates' expenses.
- Adult court matters
- Family court matters
- Wider justice system
Latest updates for magistrates: July 2025
From the Youth Justice Charter to reducing reoffending, read our handy look at the latest updates from across the justice system.
- Adult court matters
- Family court matters
- Youth court matters
MA elections 2026
Have you ever thought about becoming a trustee of the Magistrates’ Association (MA) – helping to shape its future direction, and taking a greater part in activities at a national level?
Speaking up for members: February 2026
A round-up of our recent policy, advocacy and media work.
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
- Wider justice system
- Youth court matters
How we help improve public understanding of the justice system
What we've done recently to educate the public about the magistracy and wider justice system.
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
- Wider justice system
Magistrates are core to our justice system
For Volunteers' Week, which runs 1-7 June, our Chief Executive Catherine Feast writes in praise of magistrates and their contribution to the justice sector.
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
- Wider justice system
Speaking up for members: February 2025
A round-up of our recent policy and advocacy work.
- Adult court matters
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
- Wider justice system
Influencing for you
We are 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.
