I am a magistrate – this is why they are important

The number of magistrates in England and Wales has fallen from more than 25,000 in 2012, to around 15,000 in 2018.

Many others are rapidly approaching the compulsory retirement age of 70 which the House of Commons Justice Committee says could leave significant gaps in the role, unless recruitment improves.

Sky News presenter Gillian Joseph is a court magistrate.

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.

“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.”

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.

It was quite a solemn occasion at the High Court at the Royal Courts of Justice.

I was surrounded by approximately 50 other newly-appointed magistrates who each took the oath in turn.

My family were in attendance and smiled proudly as I completed my lines.

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.

I felt that I had been called upon to truly serve the community.

I was motivated to become a magistrate after years of court reporting.

I always wanted to know more about how the Bench arrived at their decisions, what were the processes involved.

I also wanted to experience an area of life that I would ordinarily never see and fulfil my civic duty. It sounds very pompous but essentially magistrates – although they’re not social workers – can end up making decisions that affect the course of individuals’ lives in a positive way.

Deciding whether a prison sentence or a Community Order is most appropriate can be the catalyst for someone turning their life around.

Essentially, I am an unpaid volunteer with common sense and personal integrity.

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.

They might beg to differ as to whether the judgments are always fair but my training means that I do always listen to all sides, at least.

It saddens me that applications are dwindling and as many approach the retirement age of 70 this could further deplete the numbers.

Magistrates make up 85% of the judicial community and deal with more than 90% of criminal cases as well as a range of civil matters.

They are an integral part of the justice system and as such need to be nurtured and supported.

I would encourage anyone to investigate the prospect of a life on the bench, it is both enlightening and rewarding.

(c) Sky News 2019: I am a magistrate – this is why they are important