The Justice Secretary’s bid to recruit 2,000 magistrates in a year faces practical hurdles
Justice Secretary David Lammy has begun 2026 by launching an ambitious recruitment drive to appoint 2,000 new magistrates within the next financial year, as part of the Government’s Plan for Change. The campaign aims to speed up justice delivery while ensuring the magistracy better reflects the communities it serves.
However, legal analysts have raised questions about whether the target can realistically be met within the proposed timeframe. Between 2022 and 2025, the Ministry of Justice recruited approximately 2,000 magistrates over three years, averaging around 666 appointments annually. The new plan seeks to match that total in a single year, requiring a significant acceleration in recruitment.
Achieving that increase depends not only on attracting applicants, but on navigating a series of formal and informal filters that significantly narrow the pool of eligible candidates. While official messaging emphasises the role of magistrates as everyday volunteers, the practical demands of the position extend beyond a willingness to serve.
Magistrates must be able to read and understand complex legal material, follow sentencing guidelines, and engage in detailed deliberations. The role also requires sustained concentration during lengthy hearings, as well as the physical resilience to sit for extended periods in often ageing court buildings. Candidates must demonstrate emotional balance, assessing evidence impartially and remaining composed even when faced with hostility from defendants.
The most significant barrier for many applicants is the Ministry of Justice’s Good Character assessment. Individuals with serious motoring offences or more than six penalty points in the past five years are typically excluded. Financial history is also scrutinised. Undischarged bankrupts, those subject to Debt Relief Orders, or individuals disqualified as company directors within the past decade are not eligible. To avoid conflicts of interest, people working in the police, prison service or certain legal roles are generally barred.
Local connection is another factor. Magistrates are expected to serve in the communities they live in, supporting the principle of local justice. This further limits the available pool in some areas.
Financial considerations present an additional challenge. Magistrates are unpaid volunteers. Although limited compensation for loss of earnings is available, payments are capped and rarely replace a professional salary. As a result, the Ministry is effectively seeking 2,000 individuals with both the time to commit at least 13 days a year and sufficient financial stability to absorb the impact.
Even for successful applicants, the process is lengthy. The Ministry acknowledges that moving from application to sitting on the bench typically takes between 12 and 18 months. To have 2,000 new magistrates active by 2027, existing vetting and training backlogs would need to be cleared.
Whether the recruitment drive can meet its target under these constraints remains uncertain. If successful, it would represent a significant achievement. If not, it may prompt renewed debate over whether the current volunteer magistrate model remains fit for purpose.