“We need more people of every age and background to volunteer,” said Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy as the Ministry of Justice opened a 2026 push for thousands of new magistrates on 3 January. The call is nationwide but aimed squarely at local benches, with communities across the North urged to put names forward.

More than 2,000 extra magistrates have been trained since 2022, and the government wants to add roughly the same again in the next financial year - part of its Plan for Change to speed up cases. Volunteers give at least 13 sitting days a year, a commitment many balance alongside full‑time work and caring duties.

Court delays are biting across our region. Criminal Bar Association figures show the Crown Court backlog reached 78,329 cases by June 2025, with average delays for defendants on remand ranging from 265 days in Greater Manchester to 166 days in Merseyside - gaps that feed frustration for victims and accused alike.

Magistrates deal with the bulk of criminal work. Parliament data confirms around 90% of criminal cases are handled in magistrates’ courts, making recruitment a practical way to keep first hearings and lower‑level cases moving in towns and cities from Carlisle to Hull.

The MoJ says applicants don’t need legal experience. What matters are clear communication, a sense of fairness and the ability to weigh both sides. New magistrates receive structured training, a mentor in their first year and support from legal advisers in court, with opportunities across adult crime, youth, and some family and civil work.

Efforts to widen who sits on the bench are ongoing. Official figures show 57% of magistrates are women and 14% are from ethnic minority backgrounds, with London at 31%. The Magistrates’ Association says progress on ethnic and age diversity has slowed and wants barriers - from expenses to flexibility - tackled urgently.

For employers, the law is clear: staff who are magistrates are entitled to reasonable time off to carry out their duties. Pay for that time is at the employer’s discretion, and courts offer loss‑of‑earnings allowances where needed. Rotas land well in advance, and official guidance encourages flexible planning.

For would‑be applicants in places like Leeds, Sunderland, Salford or Barnsley, the role is a chance to bring local knowledge into local courts - weighing facts, listening carefully and deciding as a panel of two or three. Training is robust, mentoring is built in, and the support of legal advisers is part of the package.

Applications are processed centrally with interviews and checks before appointment. The ask from ministers is simple: if you can spare 13 days a year and value fair decision‑making, your community could use you.