Magistrates continue to be drawn from people of good character of all ages and backgrounds who are required to sit in judgement on their peers. Traditionally the Lord-Lieutenant was responsible to the Crown for enforcing law and order and held the power to appoint Justices of the Peace to The Magistrates Bench, a traditional term for the Panel of Magistrates, within his County. He is Custos Rotulorum or Master of the Rolls.
Today the Lord-Lieutenant is a member of the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Panel on the Magistracy for Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. The task of this committee is to select suitable people from those from all walks of life who volunteer to join the Bench. In Cornwall there are currently about 95 Justices of the Peace, who sit in Magistrates’ Courts in Truro and Bodmin. Justices of the Peace are expected to sit for a minimum of 26 sessions a year, the equivalent of 13 days as there are two sessions a day. The role is unpaid, but expenses are given. They can elect to sit in the criminal or family court, or both.
The Advisory Panel will call for volunteers to fill vacancies as they become available, normally each year. Those interested in applying to become a magistrate should seek further information from Click here for more information
Successful applicants will be sworn in at a ceremony before a judge and the Lord-Lieutenant at Truro Crown Court. This is followed by a period of training before new magistrates are qualified to sit in Court.
The magistracy is a key part of our national way of life. The Lord-Lieutenant would strongly encourage anyone who feels they could rise to the challenge, particularly younger members of society, to volunteer for this vital, fulfilling and immensely worthwhile role within the community of Cornwall.
