Qualification For Been A Magistrate

[nailit]

Can anyone tell me what qualifications are needed for been a magistrate?
It seems to me that the only qualfications needed are to be 'an upstanding member of the community'.
From what I can find it seems that the local judiciary is made up of local businessmen who have no idea what it means to be unemployed and down on their luck.
Can someone who is unemployed be a magistrate? If not why not? Is justice solely held in the hands of those that are 'better off' than those of us that arnt?

[naomi24]

nailit, you suffer from a condition known as inverted snobbery. It’s the downfall of the ‘working classes’. They categorise themselves and, in the process, undermine themselves. For me, a child of poor working class parents who lived on a council estate, I find that attitude terribly frustrating.

[hc4361]

Some of the most critical and condemning people I know are reformed addicts, whether it be ex-smokers or ex drug users. They seem to think that because they pulled themselves up by their boots and got through it, everyone else can. Don't think they'd be more compassionate if they were on the bench judging you, nailit.

[Jackdaw33]

How true. No-one is more zealous than a convert.

[retrocop]

nailit
Question Author
naomi, Thank you, but when was the last time you heard of a labourer becoming a magistrate? it just doesnt happen. Never will.

I would assume that a labourer would be earning his money as ....err... a labourer and not have the time to spend all day in a Magistrates court as a lay Magistrate with NO stipend.

[EDDIE51]

nalit, one reason you do not get many laborers as magistrates is because they do not get paid. How many laborers could take unpaid leave several days a month to sit as magistrates? You don't get many working people as magistrates for the same reason, they can't just keep taking time off work to sit in court. They are mainly retired / semi retired people.

[nailit]

Thanks for all replies.
//nailit, you suffer from a condition known as inverted snobbery// I dont think so naomi, I was merely questioning why so many magistrates appeared to be middle class as oppossed to working class.
//How many laborers could take unpaid leave several days a month to sit as magistrates? // point taken.
Thanks again for replies.