stipendiary magistrate

English law

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July 14, 2026

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A stipendiary magistrate is a professional lawyer in England and Wales who is paid a salary to act as a magistrate, either independently or alongside unpaid lay justices of the peace. This contrasts with the historical system where many judicial roles were unpaid.12

Magistrates' courts in England and Wales handle a wide range of criminal cases, from minor offenses to more serious crimes that may be committed to a higher court. These courts are typically presided over by a panel of lay magistrates who are advised on legal matters by a clerk. While stipendiary magistrates are professional lawyers, the broader system still involves lay individuals in judicial roles.31

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crime
Trial procedure
…legally qualified magistrates, known as stipendiary magistrates. The stipendiary magistrate can sit alone, but lay magistrates may sit only as a bench of two or more. Magistrates’ courts commit the trials of more serious crimes—such as murder, rape, and robbery—to the Crown Court system. These courts consist of a judge…
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…legally qualified magistrates, known as stipendiary magistrates. The stipendiary magistrate can sit alone, but lay magistrates may sit only as a bench of two or more. Magistrates’ courts commit the trials of more serious crimes—such as murder, rape, and robbery—to the Crown Court system. These courts consist of a judge…
Read More