Balancing Justice A Magistrate S Journey

Welcome to the world of magistracy, where justice is served, decisions are made, and lives are impacted. In this book, we will embark on a journey through the intricacies of magistracy, exploring the diverse cases, ethical considerations, impact on individuals and communities, challenges, rewards, and the significance of this vital role in the United Kingdom's justice system. Magistrates hold a position of great responsibility, entrusted with the task of dispensing justice and upholding the rule of law. They preside over a wide range of cases, from minor offences to more serious matters, making decisions that can shape the lives of individuals and the well-being of the community. Their role requires a delicate balance of fairness, impartiality, and integrity, as they navigate the complexities of the legal system. In this book, we will delve into the diverse cases that magistrates handle, ranging from criminal offences to civil disputes. We will explore the ethical considerations that guide their decision-making process, such as fairness, impartiality, and integrity. Understanding these principles is crucial in ensuring that justice is served and public trust is maintained.

Journey for Justice combines autobiography with law and political memoirs to provide a fascinating account of growing up in rural Gambia and of the author's recollections of, involvement in, and reflections on some of the major social, legal, and political issues in the Gambia during his tenure of public office in that country. This is valuable reading for all those with a serious interest in the history, politics, governance, and development of law and legal institutions in the Gambia, and indeed beyond.

When Trevor Grove was called up for Jury service he became so intrigued with the justice system that he wrote a successful book about it - The Juryman's Tale. Now he's joined the magistracy and gives a fascinating, funny and insightful account of just how the magistracy works at a time of great change. Lay magistrates deal with more than 95 per cent of all criminal cases in England and Wales, yet they are all volunteers, drawn from local communities, with no legal training or special qualifications, and are not paid a penny for what they do. Astonishingly little is known about what it is like to serve as a magistrate. (Each year 5,000 people apply to become magistrates; only 25 per cent are successful.) This book is the first for many years to shed light on the experience. Interweaving his own personal experience of becoming a magistrate in north London with general observations, relevant interviews and a little history, Trevor Grove takes us on a fascinating journey into this extraordinary and unique institution. He has visited courts all over the country to talk to magistrates and observe how crimes and criminals differ from region to region, and how the 'benches' dealing with them differ too. He has visited jails and Young Offenders' Institutions and he has interviewed all of the principal players, from the Lord Chief Justice and Home Secretary, to more integral characters such as justices' clerks, ushers, probation officers, local police and offenders. His journey uncovers a remarkable act of national faith in the good sense of ordinary people, which says a great deal more about the strength and health of our democracy than is sufficiently appreciated.

When Brian Dickson was appointed in 1973, the Supreme Court of Canada was preoccupied with run-of-the-mill disputes. By the time he retired as Chief Justice of Canada in 1990, the Court had become a major national institution, very much in the public eye. The Court's decisions, reforming large areas of private and public law under the Charter of Rights, were the subject of intense public interest and concern. Brian Dickson played a leading role in this transformation. Engaging and incisive, Brian Dickson: A Judge's Journey traces Dickson's life from a Depression-era boyhood in Saskatchewan, to the battlefields of Normandy, the boardrooms of corporate Canada and high judicial office, and provides an inside look at the work of the Supreme Court during its most crucial period. Dickson's journey was an important part of the evolution of the Canadian judiciary and of Canada itself. Sharpe and Roach have written an accessible biography of one of Canada's greatest legal figures that provides new insights into the work of Canada's highest court.