The Magistrates’ Court

The magistrates’ courts are a key part of the criminal justice system – virtually all criminal cases start in a magistrates’ court and over 95% of cases are also completed here. In addition, magistrates’ courts deal with many civil cases, mostly family matters plus liquor licensing and betting and gaming work. Cases in the magistrates’ courts are usually heard by panels of three magistrates (Justices of the Peace), of which there are around 30 000 in England and Wales.