Submitted by Seána McLaughlin on Saturday 3rd January 2026
Published on Wednesday 11th February 2026
Current status: Open
Open until: Tuesday 11th August 2026
Current Signatures: 50
(count is updated approximately hourly)
Relevant Departments
Tagged with
Benefits ~ Carry ~ Commons ~ concerns ~ Crime ~ Ensure ~ Fairness ~ Fairs ~ government plans ~ Impartiality ~ independence ~ Jury ~ jury trials ~ justice system ~ Justices ~ knowledge ~ Lack ~ Law ~ plan ~ sentence ~ skills ~ system ~ The Law ~ training ~ Trials ~ work ~ Years
Require all new magistrates to hold a law degree or independent legal experience
With the Government planning to get rid of jury trials for crimes that carry a sentence below three years, we believe it should be required that new magistrates hold a law degree or some kind of legal experience that is independent from training provided by the Government.
We are concerned that a lack of legal knowledge and experience could result in the law being applied wrong. We believe there is a significant lack of work and work experience for law graduates, and this requirement could be an appropriate solution and benefit to a fair and impartial justice system.
This could also ensure magistrates have some kind of real knowledge and skills in how to interpret common law and apply the law correctly.
If you want to sign this petition (as opposed to merely discuss it), you need to do that on the government's e-Petitions website.
216.73.217.179 Tue, 23 Jun 2026 06:26:08 +0100
