Reasons Revisited

MAGISTRATES: the volunteers presiding over criminal courts

Hello! This week we’re looking at the role of Magistrates in our justice system. Little is widely known about the volunteer system which presides over 90% of criminal cases, and as the government launches a campaign to get 4,000 new magistrates to apply, we find out how what more can be done to raise awareness and increase diversity. We’re joined by chair of the Young Magistrates Network, Luke Rigg, criminal lawyer Raj Chada and Penelope Gibbs, founder of Transform Justice.  Email your comments, questions and episode ideas to <a href="mailto:reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com</a> or at <a href="http://www.cheerfulpodcast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.cheerfulpodcast.com</a> and follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/cheerfulpodcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cheerfulpodcast/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/reasonstobecheerfulpodcast/notifications/?notif_id=1640996292121579&amp;notif_t=page_user_activity&amp;ref=notif" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/71198659" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

An occasional series revisiting conversations and ideas from Reasons to be Cheerful (2017-2024), formerly hosted by ex-Labour Party leader Ed Miliband, and Sony Award-winning radio presenter Geoff Lloyd. Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color:grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.