For ease of reference we will list some of our more significant articles below. These articles will include the key nuts and bolts of how the Magistrates' Court actually works.
This list will be updated on a regular basis, so please keep checking back.
- New Suspended Sentence Order Breach Guidelines
- Who's Who in the Magistrates' Court
- Magistrates' Court Bail
- Road Traffic Offences: Discretionary Disqualification or Penalty Points
- Categories of Criminal Offence
- Types of Sentence
- A Brief Guide to Sentencing
- An Introduction to Search Warrants
- Fine Levels and Bands
- A Day in the Life of a Magistrate
- Magistrates' Court Trials
- Road Traffic Offences: Totting Up and Exceptional Hardship
- Allocation of Either Way Offences
- Statutory Declarations
- Commencing Proceedings in the Magistrates' Court
- District Judges in the Magistrates' Court
- Magistrate Interview Ranking Exercise
- Finders Keepers? A Brief Guide to Theft
- More on GPS Location Monitoring
- Closure Notices and Orders: A Tool for Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour
- Breaches of the Peace
- Pre-Sentence Reports
- Failure to Identify the Driver of a Vehicle
- Totality: Concurrent or Consecutive Sentences
- Authorisation of Continued Detention and Warrants of Further Detention
- Domestic Violence Protection Notices and Orders
- Magistrate Interview Process
- Magistrates in the Crown Court: Appeals Against Conviction and Sentence
- Magistrates' Allowances and Expenses
- Newton Hearings
- Frustrations of Being a Magistrate: Episode 1: Ineffective Trials
- Frustrations of Being a Magistrate: Episode 2: Telephone Interpreters
- Sexual Assault: An Interesting Case Study
- Public Nudity and the Law: The Bare Facts
- GPS Location Monitoring in Practice
- Frustrations of Being a Magistrate: Episode 3: Inefficient Management of Bail Breaches
- Hunting Wild Mammals: The Hunting Act 2004
- Introduction of Stalking Protection Orders
- Drunk and Disorderly
- Pre-Charge Bail
- Mental Health Warrants
- Driving Disqualifications for Non-Driving Offences
- Criminal Behaviour Orders
- Obstructing or Resisting a Police Constable
- National Rollout of Alcohol Abstinence Electronic Monitoring
- Criminal Damage
- Frustrations of Being a Magistrate: Episode 4: Charge Deflation
- Community Protection Notices
- Wasting Police Time
- Driving Without Insurance
- Misbehaviour in the Magistrates' Court
- Early Removal of Driving Disqualification
- Acting as a Pedlar Without a Certificate
- Fireworks and the Law
- Finding the Balance: Magistrates' Time Commitment
- Comparing Magistrates' Court and Crown Court Trials
- Aggravated Trespass
- Disorderly Behaviour: Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986
- Deprivation Orders
- A Quick Guide to the JTAAAC
- Failure to Surrender to Custody
- Frustrations of Being a Magistrate: Episode 5: Rota Idiosyncrasies
- The Single Justice Procedure
- Fly-Tipping: A Case Study
- Totting Up and Exceptional Hardship: A Case Study
- No Case to Answer
- The Role of the Magistrates' Court Legal Advisor
- Exceptionally Hard Decisions: A Case Study
- Custodial Sentences: Suspended or Immediate?
- Frustrations of Being a Magistrate: Episode 6: Death by Online Training
- Road Traffic Offences: Special Reasons
- Immediate Custody Without a Pre-Sentence Report
- Dangerous Dogs and the Law
- Frustrations of Being a Magistrate: Episode 7: The Scarcity of Youth Court Work
- An Introduction to the Youth Court
- Applications to Rescind the Grant of Bail
- Vehicle Interference
- Setting the Record Straight: Section 142 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980
- Football Banning Orders
- Reporting Restrictions on Youths Appearing in Court
- Frustrations of Being a Magistrate: Episode 8: Three Hours' Journey for Three Minutes' Work
- A Brief Guide to Offensive Weapons in Private Places
- Finders Keepers? A Brief Guide to Treasure
- Police Requiring Name and Address: Section 50 of the Police Reform Act 2002
- Killers Unmasked: Brianna Ghey Murderers Named as Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe
- Troubled Teens Sentenced for Brutal Murder of Brianna Ghey
- Public Order Act 2003: Locking On, Tunnelling and Interference with Key National Infrastructure
- Application for the Reconsideration of Police Bail
- A Brief Guide to the TV Licence
- Drone Flying: Police Powers of Enforcement
- Protection of Wild Plants
- Cyberflashing: Sending Genital Images That Cause Alarm, Distress of Humiliation
- Threatening Behaviour: Sections 4 and 4A of the Public Order Act 1986
- Social Media Auditing
- Concerns Mount Over the Fairness of the Single Justice Procedure
- Council Tax Activists Target Portsmouth Magistrates' Court
- Youth Sentencing: 6 Months' Detention and Training Order for £15 Million Newcastle Arson
- Police Staff and Community Support Officers: Obstructing a Designated Person
- Behind the Scenes: Court Walk Around
- Speeding
- Possession of Corrosive Substances in Public Places
- Drunk in Charge of a Child
- Single Justice Procedure: Urgent Clarification Needed
- Arrest Warrants
- Summary Offences Limitation of Time: Section 127 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980
- Over-Listing Courts: Kicking the Can Down the Road
- CPS Withdraws Prosecution of Man Who Damaged ITV Vera's House
- Excess Alcohol and Special Reasons: Shortness of Distance Driven
- Fines as an Alternative to Community Orders
- Magistrates' Association Calls for Improvements to Single Justice Procedure
- Concern About the Use of Artificial Intelligence by Single Justice Procedure Defendants
- Suspended Sentence for Wannabe Barrister
- Common Assault and the Defence of Self-Defence: An Interesting Case Study
- Split Bench: A Difference of Opinion
- An Audience with Special Agent Fall Guy
- Account Freezing Orders
- Detention in the Courthouse: Section 135 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980
- Playing the System: Breach of Bail Turns Into Sentencing Exercise
- More on Applications to Rescind the Grant of Bail
- TV Licensing Warrants: In the Footsteps of BlackBeltBarrister
- Prison to Court Video Link Hearings
- Compensation Orders
- Applications for Early Removal of Driving Disqualification
- Flat Earthers Beware: The Perils of Failing to Sign the Section 172 Notice
- Motorist Accused of Carelessly Driving Too Close to Cyclist: A Case Study
- Public Order Act 1986: The Offences of Riot and Violent Disorder
- Railway Byelaw Offences and Penalties
- Becoming a Presiding Justice
- Criminal Behaviour Orders for Youths: An Exception to Reporting Restrictions
- More on Speeding Penalties
- The Turnbull Guidelines: A Question of Identification
- Double Whammy: Uber Driver Stung for Plying for Hire and No Insurance
- E-Scooters and the Law
- New Poultry Registration Requirements
- Offences Against the Person
- Enforcement of Fines
- Freeganism, Skip Diving and the Law
- Fraud by False Representation
- The Challenges of School Non-Attendance
- Burglary
