Magistrates Court

[Tilly2]

Can anyone go along to see the cases being 'held' in a Magistrates Court? (I don't know the correct terminology)

[humbersloop]

yes tilly, they're public hearings

[Barmaid]

Yes. Although you have to be over 16 (I think) to go in the public gallery.

You won't be able to sit in on youth court cases or family law cases.

[Baldric]

A magistrates' hearing usually takes place in a court room, with a gallery for the general public.

[Tilly2]

Thank you. I've just read in the local paper about someone I know who is appearing at the Magistrates' Court next week. Shall I be nosey and go along?

[Baldric]

Go on! you know it makes sense.

[Tilly2]

How do I find out what time it's 'on'. I have 'googled' my local court for times of cases but it doesn't tell me anything.

[mrs_overall]

Tilly, you have a DUTY to go.
You also have a duty to report back to us all the salacious details

[Tilly2]

I know you're only joking mrs_o but I certainly won't be doing that.

[albaqwerty]

If you know the date, pop into the Court at 9am and ask at the 'counter'.
They might be able to tell you what time it's scheduled for.

[Tilly2]

That's a sensible suggestion, alba. Thank you. (I probably won't go though as it feels wrong, somehow and he might see me.)

[Psybbo]

Ah, it's a 'he', we're getting somewhere Hello Tilly

[boxtops]

wear a mask, tilly :-)

[Tilly2]

Hello, psybbo. We are not allowed to chat in 'Law' so that's all I'm saying.

[New Judge]

Barmaid is (very unusually) incorrect. You have to be 14 years of age to sit in the public gallery at a Magistrates’ court. As she has correctly said you will not be allowed in to a youth court (which deals with people under 18) or family court hearings.

You will not be able to find out what time the case will be heard. Defendants are asked to arrive at either 10am or 2pm (though some courts also have 11:30 lists). You will find a number of cases listed for each session and they are called on as soon as everybody concerned is ready to proceed and when court time is available. So you may be lucky and the case you’re interested in may be called on first, or it may be last, or somewhere in between! Be prepared for the case not to be concluded on the day as very often cases are often adjourned at the request of either the prosecution, the defence or the Bench.

[emmie]

my advice would be don't go, the whole experience was awful..

[Tilly2]

Do magistrates send people to jail or is that just judges? I know nothing!

[Buenchico]

Magistrates have limited sentencing powers but they can impose custodial sentences of up to 6 months imprisonment for a single offence or of up to 12 months for multiple offences.

Some cases which start before magistrates (such as murder) MUST be passed to the Crown Court, as they're 'indictment only' cases. Some cases (such as minor motoring matters) may ONLY be heard before magistrates, as they're 'summary only' cases.

Many cases though are 'either way'. Magistrates can hear them as long as they're satisfied that, if the defendant is convicted, their sentencing powers will be sufficient (and also that there aren't any complex legal issues that need to be dealt with by a Crown Court); otherwise they'll refer the case to the Crown Court.

This might be of interest to you, Tilly:
http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/you-and-the-judiciary/going-to-court/magistrates-court

[Tilly2]

Thanks, Chris. That seem just the thing I'm looking for.

[Eve]

I used to go in to watch bail applications and such when I was at law school to prepare for advocacy exams. It was very open, we were sat on chairs in the public gallery which was essentially the back part of the courtroom - completely visible, the "dock" as such was to the right hand side, a contained area, and the benches for the lawyers in front before the benches facing us where the magistrate etc... sat.

If you have a word with the appropriate Court clerk (the desk staff should be able to direct you) before going in they may be able to advise how visible you would be in the actual courtroom, best to catch them before cases start though as they are likely to be much busier once cases start being heard.

Also bear in mind that if the person you were thinking of going to see if not currently being detained then they may be around outside the Court room so if you really don't want to be seen it's probably more advisable to sit well away.

[Peter Pedant]

All the cases are listed at x o'clock - in my case 1400
and the fore-court (ha pun intended) gets to be like a zoo.

various groups praying - a few lawyers discussing their own cases - groups doing gangnam-sta impressions -outraged litigants.
The lawyers want their cases heard first (after all there is no fat on legal aid). The court clerk wanders in between them all like a lost lamb.

you have a duty to go

even if just to see what Barmaid and New Judge go through every day of their life.


oh a member of gang came up to me [eek!]
whilst the leader was saying: 'one in and one out - that's fair' an amazing opinion on the English Legal System
and the 'solja' said: 'oh is that a seamaster ?'
and I said No it is a Breitling

and I thought Jesus this is a first - I am going to get mugged IN a magistrates court - [ and not by the magistrate ]