Thousands of new magistrates wanted in recruitment drive amid court reforms

The government has launched a recruitment drive for thousands of new judges to volunteer in England and Wales as part of efforts to tackle a backlog at the crown court.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said more than 2,000 magistrates have been trained since 2022 and the latest call aims to increase this number by a further 2,000 in the next financial year.

Justice Minister David Lammy said judges played a “vital role” in the court system and “we need more people of all ages and backgrounds to volunteer”.

In December Lammy announced sweeping reforms to criminal courts, including the removal of juries from some cases in England and Wales, to speed up the process of justice.

Latest figures showed more than 79,600 criminal cases had been caught in a court backlog in England and Wales; This number has been at a record high since early 2023 and is expected to reach 100,000 by 2028, according to the Ministry of Justice.

The delays mean that for some serious crimes committed in 2026, victims and suspects could wait years for justice as the case is unlikely to come to court before 2030.

Lammy praised judges as “everyday heroes” who handle thousands of cases in every jurisdiction.

“Volunteering to become a judge can make a real difference to your life and the lives of others, so I urge the public to apply and do your part,” he added.

The Magistrates’ Association described the crackdown as a “major vote of confidence” in judges, but called for more resources for the courts, including trained legal advisers and the repair of dilapidated court buildings.

Shadow justice secretary Kieran Mullan said the recruitment drive was welcome but could not “cover up the failures of a justice secretary and Labor government who have consistently failed to deliver meaningful reform”.

All judges are expected to volunteer to hear cases at least 13 days a year.

Magistrates are sought after in criminal, youth, civil and family cases and have specialist legal advisors to support them in dealing with a variety of cases.

Latest figures show that 57 per cent of judges are women and 14 per cent are from ethnic minority backgrounds; London has the highest rate at 31 percent, according to the Ministry of Justice.