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The Magistrate's Blog (2005-2012)

This blog has migrated to www.magistratesblog.blogspot.co.uk This blog is anonymous, and Bystander's views are his and his alone. Where his views differ from the letter of the law, he will enforce the letter of the law because that is what he has sworn to do. If you think that you can identify a particular case from one of the posts you are wrong. Enough facts are changed to preserve the truth of the tale but to disguise its exact source.

About Me

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Location: Near London, United Kingdom

The blog is written by a retired JP, with over 30 years' experience on the Bench.

Saturday, January 08, 2005

It makes me mad!

There are quite a few popularly held misconceptions about courts and those who work in them, and that goes with the job.

There are some in particular that drive me mad :-

  • No, magistrates do not wear wigs.
  • No, they do not bang gavels. No court of law in this country uses a gavel, but the media persist in portraying them. I blame a stupid Bruce Forsyth advert for Courts Furniture Stores that ran some years ago. Courts have now gone bust. Good.
  • No, the Bench are not bigoted blue-rinsed old farts - well at least 95% are not.
  • No, you do not address the Bench as 'Your Honour' . That's for the Americans and the Crown Court. Technically it's 'Your Worship' but everyone says 'Sir' these days, and that's fine.
  • No we don't give someone Community Service for mugging an old lady. That's just what the Daily Mail wants you to think.

posted by Bystander | 4:14 pm

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