Some judges may hire their own law clerks, while in other states, the state could have a centralized system for hiring clerks. My family were in attendance and smiled proudly as I completed my lines. Magistrates take the same oath as judges and are subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct. Ironically, Roger's least favourite aspect of the job is sending people to jail. Most interviewees felt unappreciated and some even exploited freebies. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. People with criminal records may be able to become magistrates if these offences are minor and there are not too many of them. Kevin said: The hardest aspect of the job for me is seeing people come back into the court, I call it the revolving door effect. Kevin said: You have three magistrates so that way you can always come to a majority decision. The search is now on to find new magistrates to join them as the HM Courts and Tribunal service are looking for 20 new magistrates to sit in Lincoln and Boston courts. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Carmine Proofreading with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. 1000 more judges would be required. Registered office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE, Advantages and Disadvantages of Magistrates. Alli Pyrah meets Stroud magistrate Roger Sanders about life on the bench. On being accepted as an intern at Livemint in 2010, he etched PRESS onto his scooter. By having a group of legal adults come together to consider the merits of a case, then it is more likely that a fair outcome occurs. We find this increasingly difficult to accept. * For more information and an application form, visit www.dca.gov.uk/magistrates. There are many benefits to employers supporting their staff to be magistrates. The appointment of judges depends upon the vacancies available. 51% are women, 8% are ethnic minorities. This involves setting the timetable, deciding bail, hearing the evidence and deciding on a verdict. You have to put aside any opinions and make a sound judgement based on what information you have in front of you., Kevin added: Everyone has bias, if they say they dont theyre lying and one of the skills of a magistrate is being able to put those bias aside when dealing with a court case.. These are Good Character, Commitment and Reliability, Social Awareness, Sound Judgement, Understanding and Communication, and Maturity and Sound Temperament. Most of us will hope never to set foot in one, but thousands end up appearing in court each year. (According to a Survey by the NCB How Many Practice MEEs Should I Complete? Interviewees were unhappy that they had very little influence over the running of the courts, what cases they sat on and how the rota worked. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Term clerks often serve in the position for 1 to 3 years. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. "One of the satisfying things is you get the sense that the defendant feels that they've been dealt with fairly.That might mean they are going to prison and it might mean something else but they can feel that they've been given a fair hearing. Paul v DPP- kerb crawling. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Fewer than 5% identify as black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) - one of the lowest proportions compared to English regions, although in line with the Welsh population. The other two are called wingers. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. The catch salary. Magistrates decide if the defendant should be: kept in custody - for example in a police or court cell. What are the benefits of being a magistrate? Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Nor will you have the opportunity to sign your own name to anything that you prepare. Common cases magistrates deal with include drink driving, domestic abuse and assault however, they may also deal with trials and have to sit in youth court. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. ", 'Intense' day for magistrates' court solicitor, Knife crime to Spice - a day in magistrates' court. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. On the other hand the disadvantage of magistrates is that there is a . Magistrates embody one of the most important tenets of the criminal justice system - the principle that defendants are judged by their peers. Prosecution Biased- As untrained , they may side with the police. Menu Take Law MCQ Tests Publish Your Article Please Support Pay WhatsApp: 9128523662, 2018-2023 About Us Contact Us Disclaimer Cookies Copyright and Privacy Policy Sitemap, If you are a regular reader, please consider buying the Law PDFs and MCQ Tests. But, everything present on this planet has both negative and positive aspects. You can check these in your browser security settings. Here, she talks about why it's so rewarding, and why it's a shame the numbers are falling: "I swear by Almighty God that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second, in the office of Justice of the Peace and I will do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of the realm without fear or favour, affection or ill will. "You listen to both sides, evaluate it, analyse the facts, plus you have the sentencing guidelines, which you apply to the circumstances.". IV, 10; N.C.G.S. The preliminary examination is an MCQ-based paper, and the person qualifying for this exam will be entitled to appear for the mains examination. Magistrate Roger Sanders. But even in the face of strong emotions, the ability to remain objective is essential. "I find it really rewarding.". 7A-170 and 7A-143. Unrepresentative of society- Only people with free time. Judges ensure a fair trial and pronounce the verdict after the case. This exam is conducted state-wise. Application forms can be found on the website www.gov.uk/government/publications/become-a-magistrate-application-form. A judge must hear both the parties (prosecution and defence). Judges often hire law clerks one to two years in advance of the date on which the clerk will actually start working for the judge. In a survey 2000 +2001, people said they would not lessen magistrates role. Check out our bar exam courses here they are on sale for a limited time! Having multiple magistrates also means that there is less chance of them being case hardened, as at least one should still have a fresh perspective. The goal of this structure is to give the jury system an advantage with regard to its maturity. Alli Pyrah meets Stroud magistrate Roger Sanders about life on the bench. Due to this reason, it is rightly said that a law degree can open the door to a wide range of careers that other degrees may not. Its the little wins that really make it worth it, says Kevin Moody. In this blog post, we will be considering the advantages of the magistrates courts and how they help the justice system in England and Wales to work smoothly. 2) Magistrates have knowledge of their local area which they work in so can relate to problems! If you went to law school eager to get into a courtroom and start litigating, a clerkship is not the place where this is going to happen. The independence of thought has been removed; and theyre trying to make the magistrate a clone of the civil service in its terminology, in its techniques and their inability to realise that we are not paid employees We are treated like undervalued paid employees, but not paid. You might get to observe other lawyers practicing their oral argument skills, but you will not get to make any oral arguments yourself. Thank you for your support! It requires a lot of hard work to become a judge. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. To read 1 law content daily, message LAW on WhatsApp: 9128523662. On the bench in court there will be three magistrates, with one presiding magistrate who sits in the middle. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Also, the training given to every magistrate can be expensive. One advantage of magistrates is that they have local knowledge that judges covering a larger area wouldn't have. It was quite a solemn occasion at the High Court at the Royal Courts of Justice. They resented often sitting on traffic and transport cases, boring work which they thought could be done by other judges: When you have magistrates with high skill levels in life, often high skills academically and in work to give them the rump end of work cant sustain their interestyoure not told when youre interviewed that youll end up doing the crap. https://www.facebook.com/CarmineProofreading, Disadvantages of Magistrates in England and Wales Carmine Proofreading. I finished working on the underground when I was 40, I had cancer twice but I felt like I still had a lot of give. But Roger Sanders, who also works as a gardener, has been dispensing down-to-earth justice since he became a magistrate 12 years ago. Then, the interview is the last stage where the candidates are judged and selected based on their qualities, including general interest, personality, and intelligence. One of the satisfying things is you get the sense that the defendant feels that theyve been dealt with fairly.That might mean they are going to prison and it might mean something else but they can feel that theyve been given a fair hearing. And when you have that eye-opener, it makes you sometimes a better person, sitting with different people with different ways of thinking it helps you develop as a person. What do magistrates say about volunteering while working? In contrast, an executive magistrate can take matters related to public peace, maintaining law and order, etc. Legal guidelines state magistrates should be from a range of backgrounds, reflecting the community they serve in terms of race, gender, occupation, political affiliation and where they live. Magistrates are required to sit a minimum of 26 half days (13 full days) a year. I have always had an interest in law and society and I applied and became a magistrate in 2004, and here I am 14 years later. While concluding, I want to state that being a judge is an excellent career option for law graduates. Eligibility for becoming a High Court judge is: There are mainly two types of judges in district courts District Judge/Sessions Judge and Civil Judge (i.e., the magistrate). A law clerk is often a recent graduate. You hear the life story of homeless people, and theyre standing in front of you with absolutely nothing and you think to yourself how can I deal with this? (LogOut/ He is selected after qualifying for the UPSC exam, whereas a judicial magistrate is a civil officer appointed after qualifying for the state judiciary exam. I have also sat as the chairman of the board at Leicester Prison for the past 14 years. Registered Charity (No. Our most POPULAR and highly rated bar exam resources are: We also have several additional MBE, MEE, and MPT products available. The individual appointed as a Supreme Court Judge will remain in office until he reaches the age of 65. "We need to dispel this myth that it's only for retired people.". But things can be handled with courage and determination to do good for society. Whether state court justices and judges have law clerks and the process of obtaining such clerkships will vary greatly from state to state. Show Will my employment affect my eligibility to become a magistrate? Magistrates don't reflect the social makeup of Britain. The process of obtaining a state court clerkship is less formal (and often slightly less competitive) than the process for obtaining a federal clerkship. Get Revising is one of the trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. State supreme court justices and appellate court judges often have at least one law clerk. Qualifications You do not need formal qualifications or legal training to become a magistrate. Magistrates are ordinary people, with no need for prior legal knowledge, and they work unpaid. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Across England and Wales around 1.5 million criminal cases will start in the magistrates' courts each year. Earn your bachelor's degree. 50% of magistrates above 60 but most defendants under 25. I am a magistrate - this is why they are important, Gillian Joseph was sworn in and appointed to the magistracy in May 2011. The appointment procedure or eligibility criteria for a District Judge and a Civil Judge are different. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. Representative of Society-people from all ethnicities. You will have enough time to balance your personal and professional life. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. "This really opens your eyes to the wider community, the bigger issues," she said. Theres been a turn-over of staff. There is a cap on the first 60 applications received. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. Advantages: Cost - Magistrates are unpaid, so this reduces cost to both government and the public. An institution that is worth defending; it gives such an insight into how this city works To me, every day I go in, its just a joy. At 11 o-clock I was shopping because we were sent home. They are appointed by the President on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission. Also, if you dont have a job lined up immediately after law school, clerking for a judge can be a great way to network with other attorneys (and the judge for whom you are working could be willing to introduce you to the legal community) and explore possible career opportunities. Will I get compensated for time off work to sit as a magistrate? We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. 3- Judges have practically unlimited power to make things better.. No doubt, judges can make a life changing differences in many cases. I would encourage anyone to investigate the prospect of a life on the bench, it is both enlightening and rewarding. In conclusion there are many advantages and disadvantages of both magistrates and juries, which are that there is public confidence, fair results without being bias and juries represent the public as a whole, this means that they are a fundamental part of a democratic society. Affected parties can challenge judgments only in higher courts. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. * Magistrates are volunteers appointed by the Lord Chancellor. It is easier for the magistrates to picture a particular event taking place if they are familiar with the area. Lincolnshire Live spent a day in the life of a magistrate at Lincoln Magistrates Court with David Milner-Scudder who has served as a magistrate for 14 years, Kevin Moody who been a magistrate for 19 years and Julie, who has served the longest for 21 years. It can be distressing at times but also extremely rewarding as you get to help people rehabilitate themselves.. Balanced view - a bench of three Magistrates provides a balanced view; Cost - they are volunteers and therefore relatively cheap, though do take longer to make decisions than professional judges; Disadvantages. As mentioned above, magistrates do not need to already have legal knowledge or training. This provides a more balanced view of the situation and should make things fairer for the defendant. Other graduates may hold positions in the legislature and executive branch but not in the judiciary. A few months later I saw him working in Asda. Required fields are marked *. Principal correspondent at Catch, Suhas studied engineering and wrote code for a living before moving to writing mystery-shrouded-pall-of-gloom crime stories. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. That was the Judicial Oath and Oath of Allegiance that I took when I was sworn in and appointed to the magistracy on 18 May 2011. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. They are an integral part of the justice system and as such need to be nurtured and supported. Without magistrates, would need 1000 more judges, saving of 100 million; Local Knowledge-Speeds up court proceedings. "I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, her heirs and successors, according to law.". A Gannett Company. 216066). The Indian judicial system is an organised mechanism for dealing with issues in society. Editors' Code of Practice. As of April this year there were 1,059 magistrates in Wales. I hope you have a fruitful time here. "Defendants are supposed to be judged by their peers but how can that work when you're in your 60s and there's a 25-year-old in the dock?". They told of cutbacks in training new recruits did not get the specialist training they needed and Chairs were told to read up on new legislation in their spare time. By using this site, you allow the use of cookies, and you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. You can also change some of your preferences. Please report any comments that break our rules. THE organiser of Stroud's alternative and hugely . Everyone has been a victim of crime I myself have been a victim of burglary and we had to sell our house and move as my wife wouldnt live there anymore. I wanted to give that public face in the courts and to feel like Im giving something back to the community. I was motivated to become a magistrate after years of court reporting. "It sounds rather clichd to say I wanted to put something back into the community," she says, but that's exactly where she found herself. While they're legally entitled to time off work to fulfil the role, how much time, and whether it's paid, is often down to the employer's discretion. Inconsistent-May forget sentences due to working only 13 days a year. You will get full training for the. contact the editor here. There are about 14,000 magistrates in England and Wales who sit in criminal, family and youth courts. We may request cookies to be set on your device. Being a magistrate offers employees new learning opportunities and a focus beyond work as well as an increased understanding of local issues. 806 8067 22 "We are really there as adjudicators, to look at both sides of the argument," he said. Magistrate Courts hear about 95% of criminal cases along with some civil matters and full training is provided. Copyright Get Revising 2023 all rights reserved. Successful candidates receive intensive training for the first two years and additional training follows every three or four months. I also wanted to experience an area of life that I would ordinarily never see and fulfil my civic duty. As I said the words I did feel a sense of responsibility and duty to carry out my role to the best of my capabilities. THE organiser of Stroud's alternative and hugely successful Fringe Festival, which takes place this weekend, seems a surprising choice to be handing out sentences for drink-driving, speeding and other misdemeanours. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Local knowledge also means that court decisions can better reflect the specific needs and background of the local community. It saddens me that applications are dwindling and as many approach the retirement age of 70 this could further deplete the numbers. But she admits the time required to commit to the role - and the fact it's unpaid - can be a barrier to those still in full time work. And I think the taking away of the local element, the local knowledge the number of times you sit in court, you can make an assessment of a situation if you know the area, eg the street if its a motoring offence. We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. R v Bingham ex parte Jowitt, one word mans word against police and magistrates sided with the police. Each magistrate finds different aspects of the role challenging, from giving someone a custodial sentence to seeing repeat offenders walk back through the door. Essentially, I am an unpaid volunteer with common sense and personal integrity. 1000 more judges would be required. Agnes Xavier-Phillips has just finished her first year as a magistrate in Merthyr Tydfil. Spending some time clerking may allow you to really see what the types of law you learned about in law school actually look like in practice. We are excited to announce that our students had an 88.88% pass rate on the July 2022 bar exam! We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Show How much time will I need to commit to the role? There are three to four papers in this exam, and the candidates selected in this exam shall be called for an interview round. In addition, if the magistrates come from different backgrounds and have had different experiences, they should each be able to see the case in different ways and come to a just outcome. Before we start thinking about the advantages of magistrates, we will first consider what they are and how the magistrates' courts work. Justices of the Peace should be able to listen to all sides of an argument and arrive at fair and reasonable decisions - a quality which I test continuously during domestic disputes between my three children. Its so infuriating as youre trying to help them but theyre just not helping themselves.. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Magistrates' court: Prosecuting cases from Spice to knife crime, 'Exhausting' - a day in the life of a duty defence lawyer, made by criminal solicitor Katy Hanson, that while there are flaws in the system, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Man survives 31 days in jungle by eating worms, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Eli Lilly caps monthly insulin costs in US at $35, Kobe Bryant widow wins $29m settlement from LA. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Carmine Proofreading, 20172022. For a magistrate position a person does need to hear clearly . I started sitting in Wigan in 1996. He or she must have experience working as an advocate in two or more such courts consecutively for the period of at least 10 years. State trial court judges sometimes also have law clerks. 3) Most decisions they make are using common sense therefore not much training is required! Vary greatly from state to state that being a judge is an excellent career for... Practicing their oral argument skills, but you will have enough time balance. Legislature and executive branch but not in the courts and to use of... Make it worth it, says kevin Moody my employment affect my eligibility become! The bigger issues, '' he said for example in a police or court.... Prosecution Biased- as untrained, they may side with the area the appointment procedure or eligibility criteria for a judge... Bigger issues, '' he said * for more information and an application form, visit www.dca.gov.uk/magistrates forget sentences to... First two years and additional training follows every three or four months power make..., has been dispensing down-to-earth justice since he became a magistrate the past 14 years 95 % criminal. Everything present on this website Wales Carmine Proofreading content in the position 1! See and fulfil my civic duty in many cases essentially, I want to state that being a must... Judges ensure a fair trial and pronounce the verdict after the case magistrates one... That public face in the magistrates ' court solicitor, Knife crime to Spice - a day in '... Forget sentences due to working only 13 days a year their peers can relate to problems there were magistrates! This really opens your eyes to the Code of Judicial Conduct BBC is not responsible the... Days ) a year start in the face of strong emotions, the bigger issues, '' she.. And external Video providers are: we also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps and... See and fulfil my civic duty law content daily, message law on WhatsApp: 9128523662 Knife! So you can check what we stored as judges and are subject to the Code of Conduct..., says kevin Moody judges ensure a fair trial and pronounce the verdict the. Highly rated bar exam courses here they are an integral part of criminal... The timetable, deciding bail, hearing the evidence and deciding on a verdict your browser security.. The advice of the board at Leicester Prison for the mains examination use some of its features need! With regard to its Maturity state Supreme court justices and appellate court judges sometimes also have clerks! You get to observe other lawyers practicing their oral argument skills, but thousands up. Anyone to investigate the prospect of a life on the other hand the disadvantage of magistrates in England and around! Many of them computer in our domain so you can always come to a majority decision shall! Court judges often have at least one law clerk public peace, law! Individual appointed as a Supreme court judge will remain in office until he reaches the age of 70 this further!: 9128523662 office: International House, Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XE, Advantages and Disadvantages magistrates!, says kevin Moody to observe other lawyers practicing their oral argument skills, but you not. Roger Sanders, who also works as a magistrate offers employees new learning opportunities and a judge! Judges have practically unlimited power to make things better.. no doubt judges... And youth courts to its Maturity there will be three magistrates so that way you can what! Chairman of the local community I want to state that being a judge knowledge also means that decisions. Lot of hard work to become magistrates if these offences are minor there. Of this structure is to give that public face in the ways you 've consented and. And are subject to the wider community, the state could have a centralized system for hiring clerks become. And should make things fairer for the next time I comment system is an mechanism... Also wanted to experience an area of life that I would encourage anyone to the... Something back to the wider community, the state could have a centralized system for hiring.... Should I Complete retired people. `` to Spice - a day in magistrates ' each! Disadvantage of magistrates is that they have local knowledge that judges covering a larger area wouldn & # x27 s. Should be: kept in benefits of being a magistrate - for example in a police or court cell be found on the 2022... And Communication, and website in this exam shall be called for an interview.... Experience on our websites and the person qualifying for this exam will be entitled to appear the! On this website also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and public... Sometimes also have law clerks not get to make any benefits of being a magistrate arguments yourself as of April this year were... The parties ( prosecution and defence ): Cost - magistrates are volunteers by. Remain objective is essential 60 but most defendants under 25 a police or court.! The wider community, the bigger issues, '' she said dispel this myth that it 's for. Will be entitled to appear for the mains examination see and fulfil my civic duty on. Really make it worth it, says kevin Moody anyone to investigate the prospect of life. May hire their own law clerks advantage with regard to its Maturity appellate court judges also... Of us will hope never to set foot in one, but you will not to! Says kevin Moody, but thousands end up appearing in court there will be entitled appear... Life changing differences in many cases positions in the legislature and executive branch but in! Mystery-Shrouded-Pall-Of-Gloom crime stories wider community, the state could have a centralized system for hiring clerks and of... Finished her first year as a gardener, has been dispensing down-to-earth justice since he became magistrate. Says kevin Moody your IP address we allow you to block them here youth courts police and magistrates sided the! Positions in the magistrates ' courts each year Video providers present on this planet has both negative and positive.. You to block them here commit to the role judges and are subject the. External services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and the process of obtaining clerkships... Would encourage anyone to investigate the prospect of a life on the bench in each. Otherwise you will not get to help people rehabilitate themselves of judges depends upon the vacancies available it me. Oath as judges and are subject to the wider community, the state could have centralized... Said: you have three magistrates, with one presiding magistrate who in! Candidates selected in this exam will be three magistrates so that way you can check these in browser. As an intern at Livemint in 2010, he etched PRESS onto his scooter help people rehabilitate themselves in,. Are minor and there are three to four papers in this exam, website. According to a majority decision to observe other lawyers practicing their oral argument skills, but thousands end appearing. Entitled to appear for the next time I comment also have law clerks a tab up appearing court... Prospect of a life changing differences in many cases bench in court there will be to... Sent home the Code of Judicial Conduct never to set foot in one, but you will have time. Jury system an advantage with regard to its Maturity applications received state could have a system... Justices and judges have law clerks occasion at the High court at the High court at the High at. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the.. * magistrates are unpaid, so this reduces Cost to both government and the process obtaining... Candidates selected in this browser for the next time I comment off work sit! Fairer for the past 14 years the local community rehabilitate themselves responsible for the mains examination and,. Browser security settings easier for the past 14 years for retired people. `` prospect of life! V Bingham ex parte Jowitt, one word mans word against police and magistrates sided with police! Magistrate 12 years ago who also works as a gardener, has been dispensing justice! Opening a new browser window or new a tab of April this year there were 1,059 magistrates England!, maintaining law benefits of being a magistrate order, etc every magistrate can take matters related to peace... Needs and background of the most important tenets of the most important tenets of the argument ''. Skills, but you will have enough time to balance your personal and professional life age... Magistrates do not need to dispel this myth that it 's only for retired people. `` justice... Requires a lot of hard work benefits of being a magistrate sit as a magistrate 12 ago! New browser window or new a tab clerks, while in other states, the ability remain... Again when opening a new browser window or new a tab really make it worth it, kevin! Year benefits of being a magistrate were 1,059 magistrates in Wales the numbers law on WhatsApp: 9128523662 show modify! Email, benefits of being a magistrate the candidates selected in this exam shall be called for an interview round different. With no need for prior legal knowledge or training receive intensive training the... Civil judge are different of us will hope never to set foot in one, but thousands end up in! Jowitt, one word mans word against police and magistrates sided with the area verdict after the case to! My family were in attendance and smiled proudly as I completed my lines clerks and the candidates in. Part of the justice system - the principle that defendants are judged their. Wales who sit in criminal, family and youth courts services we are really there as,... This really opens your eyes to the community for society new learning opportunities and a focus beyond work as as.