Magistrates’ Courts handle all criminal cases bought before the courts. 95% of all cases are dealt with fully by the Magistrates’ Courts, with 5% being referred to Crown Court.
Magistrates will attend the schools with a series of lesson plans, to deliver information on the judicial system and to engage with the children in a constructive and interactive manner. This work complements the Citizenship curriculum.
The classroom sessions, which last 45minutes each, can be during school time or immediately afterwards. The sessions will be delivered by magistrates appointed to the Walsall and Aldridge Court. Teaching staff will be involved and will facilitate the sessions and will help with the class activity, but they are not expected to have to prepare lesson material or content. No charge is made to the school and all children will receive a certificate and a token prize.
Annual national Mock Trial competitions involving our senior schools are also run, with local heats held at local Courts. With the help of magistrates, the schools can also run their own Mock Trials within the school and these can be adapted to meet the requirements of the schools.
The Mock Trials will be scripted, based on typical trials and each pupil involved will learn their part. Pupils will take the parts of magistrates, court usher, court legal adviser, defendant, solicitors and witnesses for the prosecution and defence. The school will facilitate this and the practice needed. Local magistrates will be in attendance to help if needed. On the day of the trial, which will last approximately 1 hour for each trial held, magistrates will attend to officiate, help and to judge. The competition can be organised between classes, or within a class, to suit the school time and resources. The mock trials can also 'incorporate court artist and court reporter' competitions.
Walsall and Aldridge Magistrates’ are working to give a better understanding of the Judicial System. To help with this, we are suggesting that those schools with an interest in developing this service to our communities should meet with us and discuss just how we can extend this activity and hopefully hold a local Mock Trial at your School.
Working with the Magistrates’ Association, The Citizenship Foundation also promotes and organises a national mock trial competition for year 8 and 9 pupils and every year over 4,500 young people and 800 magistrates and other legal professionals are involved in the competition. Planning for these begins in September and schools will have received their resources in the autumn term. Local Heats take place on a Saturday morning in February or March, with the winning schools progressing to the Regional Finals in May, followed by the National Final in June. Local Magistrates’ will help schools in their preparation and details can be found on 'www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk.
Local magistrates’ also provide further valuable service within the community, by responding to invitations to speak to various groups within our area. This helps to raise awareness in the community of the magistracy and its work in Magistrates’ Courts, thereby increasing understanding of the criminal justice system.
If you are interested in discussing a programme of talks or mock trial at your school
Walsall Court Centre Manager
Magistrates’ Court
Stafford Street
Walsall
WS12 8HA
Telephone 01922 700209
Email cookeb@walsall41.orangehome.co.uk
Telephone 07881817854