Surely just anyone who is given a sentence over 6 months will be appealing it, given that these powers are being granted not ensuring that proper justice is met but rather as a quick fix for what is an internal administration issues within the magistrates courts.
A reminder that Magistrates are volunteers from the community, often from older, middle class, demographics. They have very little legal training and do not have to publish their sentencing reasons. They are not judges, they are not lawyers, and they are not experts.
This is a headline grabbing attempt to avoid dealing with the real issues plaguing the criminal justice system. Under investment in court facilities, judges, covering the costs of more prosecutors *and* defence advocates.
Giving more power to Magistrates does not solve any of these problems, it just increases the chance that justice won’t be delivered.
2 comments
Surely just anyone who is given a sentence over 6 months will be appealing it, given that these powers are being granted not ensuring that proper justice is met but rather as a quick fix for what is an internal administration issues within the magistrates courts.
A reminder that Magistrates are volunteers from the community, often from older, middle class, demographics. They have very little legal training and do not have to publish their sentencing reasons. They are not judges, they are not lawyers, and they are not experts.
This is a headline grabbing attempt to avoid dealing with the real issues plaguing the criminal justice system. Under investment in court facilities, judges, covering the costs of more prosecutors *and* defence advocates.
Giving more power to Magistrates does not solve any of these problems, it just increases the chance that justice won’t be delivered.
If anyone has any interest in understanding more about the failures of our justice system, and the problems with Magistrate courts, I can’t recommend enough [this book](https://smile.amazon.co.uk/dp/1509841148/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_92YC4JSY824133GGCAAG)