Letter: Local justice at risk

Mrs Mary J. Glanvill
Tuesday 11 August 1992 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: The blueprint for a user- friendly court service ('Law Society demands a demystified court service', 8 August) proposes changes that will reduce unnecessary delays. Your article says 'The convenience of judges, magistrates and tribunals should no longer be paramount' and quotes the report as saying that 'It is usually more expensive to keep parties . . . waiting, than to keep the . . . judge, magistrate or tribunal waiting'.

From personal experience, the convenience of lay magistrates is not paramount. Delays in court are rarely, if ever, caused by JPs.

Local justice, which is surely the most user-friendly service, is fast disappearing. Small benches are being amalgamated into large, petty sessional divisions. Smaller courthouses are being closed - courts being held in larger towns. This is being done to save money. Whose? Certainly not the lay magistrates or solicitors, court users who spend more time in travelling longer distances. JPs receive an unrealistic allowance for subsistence and travel. More than 90 per cent of all court hearings are dealt with in the magisterial courts. JPs are being asked to undertake more training and 'sit' for longer hours than ever before. It is not surprising that fewer suitable people are coming forward to serve as lay magistrates.

The lay magistracy is being phased out. Local justice is being eroded from all directions. The public will suddenly find that magistrate's courts no longer have lay magistrates from their local community. They will have stipendiary magistrates. Is this what we want?

Yours sincerely,

MARY J. GLANVILL

Chard,

Somerset

8 August

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in