UK Law Articles
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Lord Chancellor's Department
Press Notice
29 August 2000
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO BENEFIT FROM
IMPROVEMENTS TO STIPENDIARY BENCH
From Thursday 31 August, Provincial and Metropolitan Stipendiary
Magistrates in England and Wales will serve on a unified Stipendiary
Magistrates' bench and will be re-named 'District Judges
(Magistrates' Courts)'.
The Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, said:
"The newly unified bench will enable greater flexibility in the
allocation of judicial officers to hear cases and respond to
fluctuations in workloads in magistrates' courts in England and
Wales. These changes are part of Access to Justice Act reforms to
improve the efficiency of magistrates' courts."
"They will continue to complement and work alongside the 30,000 lay
Magistrates, providing an efficient partnership in delivering the
criminal justice process.
"The title District Judges (Magistrates' Courts) was chosen following
a consultation exercise in 1998. It will more closely reflect the
professional status of Stipendiary Magistrates and provides a
judicial title which is easier for the public to recognise."
The unified bench will be led by Mrs Penelope Hewitt as the Senior
District Judge (Chief Magistrate) who formerly sat at Leeds. She will
now sit at Bow Street magistrates' court and will be assisted a
Deputy Senior District Judge (Magistrates' Courts).
Notes for Editors
1. As part of a package of initiatives announced in Parliament on
29 October 1997 to improve speed and efficiency in the
Magistrates' Courts, the Lord Chancellor proposed changes in the
law to allow Stipendiary Magistrates to sit in any magistrates'
court in England and Wales. This proposal is enacted in the Access
to Justice Act 1999.
2. The measure will end a 200 year old distinction between
Metropolitan and Provincial Stipendiary Magistrates. Stipendiary
Magistrates are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Lord
Chancellor. From today they will enjoy a nation-wide jurisdiction,
as District Judges and Circuit Judges currently do.
3. Stipendiary Magistrates have broadly the same jurisdiction as
lay magistrates, but are full-time, professional judges and
normally sit alone when hearing cases.
4. There are currently 47 Metropolitan Stipendiaries and 49
Provincial Stipendiaries, and more than 30,000 lay Magistrates.
5. The Government's detailed proposals were set out in a
consultation paper 'Creation of a Unified Stipendiary Bench',
issued in May 1998. It is available on the LCD website, http:/www.open.gov.uk/lcd. (Update 08/02/08 - This web site no longer exists.)
6. Mrs Penelope Hewitt (68) was called to the bar in 1978. She was
first appointed as an Acting Stipendiary Magistrate in 1988. She
was appointed as a Provincial Stipendiary Magistrate in 1990.
