What do Magistrates do?
Magistrates work in local courts – the magistrates’ courts. They carefully consider the evidence and make decisions in a fair and unbiased manner.
Magistrates make decisions on a range of issues affecting children and families.
The work covers a wide range of criminal and civil matters. Magistrates’ courts dispose of over 95% of all criminal cases.
In criminal cases heard in the Adult and Youth Courts, magistrates:
- Decide on requests for remand in custody
- Decide on applications for bail
- Decide whether a case should be adjourned
- Determine whether a defendant is guilty or not
- Pass sentence on a defendant who has been found guilty
- Commit a defendant to the Crown Court for sentence
- Enforce financial penalties
- May determine the venue at which a case will be heard
In civil cases heard in the Family Proceedings Court magistrates make decisions on a range of issues, for example, liquor licensing.
In a magistrates’ court the justices usually sit as a Bench of three – when sitting as a Youth or Family Proceedings Panel there must be at least one man and one woman justice on the Bench.
When hearing cases magistrates have to ascertain the facts and then apply the law to them with the help and advice of a qualified court clerk.
Magistrates may sit with a judge in the Crown Court to hear appeals from magistrates’ courts against conviction or sentence.