SPJ on Honouring Sitting Commitments

The Senior Presiding Judge of England and Wales, The Rt. Hon. Lady Justice Julia Macur DBE, has written an open letter to the chairman of the Magistrates' Association on the subject of Magistrates honouring their sitting commitments.

The SPJ writes as follows:

As you know, I generally and genuinely laud the professional manner in which magistrates conduct the important public service they undertake as judicial office holders far and wide. I hold the magistracy in very high esteem and am proud of their dedication and the vast array of talents they bring to the administration of justice in England and Wales.

However, I have recently become aware of a small number of magistrates notifying their sitting colleagues and legal adviser, when they arrive at court, of their inability to sit for the whole session for personal reasons. While this is obviously a very small minority, nevertheless the impact can be significant, since it has apparently resulted in sittings having to be abandoned, or cases adjourned part-heard, with consequent disruption for defendants, witnesses and court listing, and with the attendant risk of attracting adverse press attention.

While unforeseen events do occur which may require urgent attention, I would hope that all magistrates will appreciate that social engagements should not be given priority over previously arranged sitting commitments.

Quite right too. Any Magistrate who has committed to sit a full day in court, should expect to sit a full day in court. If changing circumstances mean they can no longer commit to the full sitting, then they should cancel at the earliest possible opportunity so that alternative arrangements can be made.

Magistrates might be volunteers, but they are volunteering to uphold the highest professional standards of the role.