Assumption: "Magistrates are judges."
1 min readThis content reflects observational insights and lived community experiences. It does not constitute legal advice — always consult a qualified professional for your specific circumstances.
Court Reality
Magistrates are not professional judges. They are lay volunteers (or, in some family cases, legally qualified district judges sitting alone) who hear criminal cases in the magistrates' court and sit as lay justices in the Family Court. In family proceedings, lay magistrates sit as a bench and are advised on law by a legal adviser. They are distinct from professional judges. (Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984, Part 4A)
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The Gap?
"Magistrates are judges."
Court Reality
Magistrates are not professional judges. They are lay volunteers (or, in some family cases, legally qualified district judges sitting alone) who hear criminal cases in the magistrates' court and sit as lay justices in the Family Court. In family proceedings, lay magistrates sit as a bench and are advised on law by a legal adviser. They are distinct from professional judges. (Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984, Part 4A)
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