Magistrates


	Who Are They ?	Role
	Unpaid, unqualified members of the public who hear cases in the court Need to be mature, have a sense of fairness, social awareness, good understanding of English, good character Cant have any previous convictions Over 18s under 65s	Deal with summary offences and some either way offences Preliminary hearings Decide verdict and sentence Powers of 6 months, up to £5000, community charge Deal with first hearings of indicatble offences Issue warrants and licsences Can sign passport Can sit in crown court and hear appeals with a judge
	Commitments	Magistrates Clerk
	Have to be in court for 13 full days or 26 half days in a year	Legally qualified barrister or solicitor for at lewast 5 years Not involved in Mags decision Advise on applicatiojn of law Ensure proceedings run smoothly Every bench has a clerk

Unpaid, unqualified members of the public who hear cases in the court
Need to be mature, have a sense of fairness, social awareness, good understanding of English, good character
Cant have any previous convictions
Over 18s under 65s

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