Our Magistracy

John Hosking combined a lifetime in business with service as a justice of the peace. Chairman of the nationwide Magistrates' Association from 1987 to 1990, he is life vice-president of the Kent branch (where he served on the Ashford bench). He has acted as a Deputy Lord Lieutenant and was awarded the CBE in 1990 for services to the magistracy.

• Introduction; 1. Winds of Change - A torrent of new laws and reviews; Illusions of progress; Centralisation and diversion; Transformation of courts and benches. 2. JPs in Recession - Independence under threat; Reduced power, influence and status; Local justice abandoned; 3. Justice in a Moral Vacuum - Freedom, democracy and justice; Changed attitudes and standards; Reduced respect for law and honesty; 4. National Dilemma - Failure of prevention and deterrence; Discordant public opinion; Confinement versus freedom; No perfect answers; 5. Lawyers: Allies or Rivals? - Justices' clerks and their successors; Lawyer justice is not peer justice; District judges are not lay justices; Threat to the lay magistracy; 6. Fallible Juries - Them and us; Weaknesses of the jury system; Miscarriages of justice; 7. Trustworthy Justices - Good and lawful citizens; Merit and selection; Recruitment, employment and appointment; Training; 8. Public and Personal - Standards and public service; On and off duty; Diversity and representation; 9. Bouquets and Brickbats - A jewel beyond price, or a bunch of amateurs?; The cornerstone of our society; Undeserved criticism; Amateur, unrepresentative and 'out of touch'; White, too old, too middle-class ...; 'Muddled' magistrates and 'repellent' lawyers; 10. A Great National Institution - Independent authority; Respect and appreciation; The people's court; Good value for the nation; 11. Whither Lay Justice? - Missing the point; Safeguarding the lay magistracy; Stop dismantling; start rebuilding; Questions for the future; 12. Voice of the Magistracy - Pioneer of training and guidelines; Influence and reputation; Appendix to Chapter 12: Chairmen of the Magistrates Association (1962-2020). Some Key Sources. Index.

‘A number of books have been written about the magistracy … but none as good as this one … It is beyond reasonable doubt that every serving magistrate should have a copy’-- Brian P Block; 'I have read just about everything relating to the English lay magistracy; your book is a worthy addition to that material, and came like a breath of fresh air. I believe it will probably become a definitive work'-- Dr Alan Forbes JP, Former bench chairman; 'I thought your book was excellent, and stands in marked contrast to the unfair and rather biased portrayal of the magistracy in books such as The Secret Barrister ...... It appeared at just the time when we need wider understanding of the value we bring, and the real value of timely and effective local justice'-- Lt Col John R. Stroud-Turp JP, West London bench; 'A well-paced, readable and compelling narrative on the recent history of the local administration of summary justice and the fast-changing role, influence and functions of magistrates.'-- Mike Guilfoyle, retired member of Napo and magistrate (from Probation Journal).