Smells like teen justice! 18-year-olds are being urged to enroll as magistrates as Calamity Lammy vows to chop courtroom backlog
More teenagers could soon be sitting as magistrates as David Lammy launches a drive to recruit 2,000 more ‘everyday heroes’ to help ease the courts crisis.
The Justice Secretary is encouraging people of ‘every age and background’ and as young as 18 to consider applying as court backlogs soar.
While 18-year-olds can already be appointed, only a small proportion of the 14,500 who currently volunteer are under 30.
Meanwhile, the voluntary body is dominated by older people with more than 80 per cent of magistrates aged over 50 and half over 60.
But with more than 360,000 cases currently waiting to be heard in magistrates’ courts and a further 80,000 in crown courts, Mr Lammy is keen to widen participation.
‘Magistrates are everyday heroes – and we need more people of every age and background to volunteer, not just to deliver justice but to serve and represent their local communities,’ he said.
‘Volunteering to become a magistrate can make a real difference to your life and the lives of others, and that’s why I’m calling on the public to apply and play your part.’
The Justice Secretary has already sparked controversy with his proposals to slash numbers of jury trials in crown courts and increase magistrates’ powers to they can sentence offenders to up to 18 months in jail.
The Justice Secretary David Lammy is encouraging people of ‘every age and background’ and as young as 18 to consider applying as court backlogs soar
More than 360,000 cases are currently waiting to be heard in magistrates’ courts and a further 80,000 in crown court. Pictured: The Old Bailey in London
Currently, they can impose a 12 month sentence, which was only increased from six months at the end of 2024.
However, insiders estimate that at least 20,000 magistrates will be needed to shift the backlogs and meet any new requirements, meaning another 5,500 need to be found, nearly triple the number Mr Lammy says he needs.
Magistrates’ bodies are also behind any moves to boost diversity. Currently, magistrates can sit until they reach 75 but, as magistrates must sit for a minimum of five years, the effective cut off point for appointment is 70.
The last government increased the mandatory retirement age from 70 to 75 but the staffing crisis is being exacerbated as many sitting magistrates have now reached retirement age.
David Ford, the national chairman of the Magistrates’ Association, told The Telegraph today: ‘It is vital that magistrates continue to reflect the local communities they serve so we welcome increased efforts to reach ordinary people from all walks of life.
‘No matter who you are, being a magistrate can give you the opportunity to make a real difference in your community and develop a vast range of transferable skills.’
An association source said it was ‘correct’ that this included 18-year-olds, adding: ‘As with any voluntary role, some people will find it easier to volunteer than others, but it’s open to everyone.’
All magistrates are expected to volunteer for at least 13 days a year to hear cases and to be of ‘good character and sound judgement’.
Personal qualities required by the judiciary include an awareness of social issues and a level of maturity and sense of fairness.
Magistrates do not need any legal expertise as they have specialist legal advisers to support them. They can sit across criminal, youth, and civil and family proceedings.
While he welcomed the need for more magistrates, Kieran Mullan, the shadow justice minister, said: ‘Recruiting thousands of new magistrates is welcome but it cannot paper over the failings of a Justice Secretary and Labour Government that has consistently failed to deliver meaningful reform.’
