How do I become a magistrate in South Africa?

Who is the youngest judge in South Africa?

Leona Valerie Theron (born 7 November 1966 in Durban) is a judge on the Constitutional Court of South Africa and formerly of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

How are magistrates paid?

Magistrates are not paid, but many employers allow their employees time off with pay. If you lose out on pay, you can claim an allowance at a set rate, as well as allowances for travel and subsistence.

How long is magistrates training?

Magistrates do not need any specific legal training, nor do they sit exams. Instead, they undergo mandatory training of about three and a half days before sitting in court, and will be allocated a mentor for their first year.

Can anyone be a magistrate?

As long as they are over 18 and can make the time for it, almost anybody can become a magistrate. There are only a few exceptions: Police officers, traffic wardens and members of the armed forces cannot become magistrates. This is to make sure that magistrates are impartial.

Is it difficult to become a magistrate?

While they do not require qualifications in practicing law, a magistrate requires a number of key skills, which includes: Good character – the role of a magistrate is to establish right from wrong, and to apply appropriate judgements to those who have broken the law. As such, being of good character is vital.

Why would someone want to be a magistrate?

Community benefits. By helping to uphold the law you will be making your local community a safer place to live. You can also help offenders try to make good the damage they have done to others through their offences by getting them involved in unpaid community work.

Is magistrate and judge the same?

The word judge has been derived from French word juger. A civil officer or a minor judicial officer in specific areas like district, town, etc is called as Magistrate. The mandate of Magistrate is to handle minor cases. A Judge is not a civil officer neither is he a minor judicial officer.

What qualifications do you need to become a judge in South Africa?

Is a judge a lawyer?

Most but not all US judges have professional credentials as lawyers. Non-lawyer judges in the United States are often elected, and are typically either justices of the peace or part-time judges in rural limited jurisdiction courts.

What is the age limit for magistrate?

Magistrates to sit until 75

The Ministry of Justice announced back in March this year that the retirement age for magistrates will be raised to 75, which is reflected in Clause 103 of the Bill.

Can magistrates become judges?

More experienced magistrates also deal with cases in the youth court (involving defendants aged ten to 18) or with children's cases in the family court. In addition, magistrates can sit with a legally qualified circuit judge in the Crown Court during appeals.

What stops you being a magistrate?

Cautions and convictions of family members

Your relationship with the individual, and the extent of your contact with that person. Whether or not you appear to condone the offence; and. Whether the circumstances could undermine your credibility and standing as a magistrate if they became known to the public.

What are the 6 key qualities of magistrates?

19.2 The six key qualities sought in those applying to become magistrates are, good character, understanding and communication, social awareness, maturity and sound temperament, sound judgment and commitment and reliability (see section 6).

Do magistrates wear robes?

High Court and District Court judges wear black gowns. Magistrates do not wear gowns.

Can magistrate send you jail?

Sentences a magistrates' court can give

The court can give punishments including: up to 6 months in prison (or up to 12 months in total for more than one offence) a fine. a community sentence, like doing unpaid work in the community.

Why do magistrates not get paid?

The role of a magistrate is primarily a community one. Magistrates don't receive a fee because they are not legal professionals and are instead upstanding members of the community with good character, guided by a legal advisor at their side.

Do magistrates get an allowance?

Magistrates who suffer a loss of earnings as a result of their duties can claim a loss allowance, usually at a set rate; evidence of financial loss must be provided before magistrates can make a claim.

What is the main focus of training for magistrates?

Magistrates' training is based on competences; a checklist of knowledge and observable behaviour that magistrates will need to demonstrate in order to successfully fulfil the role.

Is it difficult to be a judge?

Choosing judgeship is a long and challenging journey requiring dedication to hard work and years of study. Individuals who learn how to become judges recognize they'll need diligence in patients to achieve their career goal of administering justice to the guilty and innocent.