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Written question asked by Lord Garnier (Conservative) on Monday, 13 October 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 October 2025. It was answered by Baroness Levitt (Labour) on Monday, 27 October 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.


Magistrates

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government how many barristers and solicitors (1) are available to sit as deputy district judges (magistrates’ courts) in England and Wales, and (2) sat as deputy district judges (magistrates’ courts) in each week of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Answer

As at 1 April 2025 (the most recent month for which there are published statistics), there were 88 Deputy District Judges (Magistrates Court) where this was their primary appointment. Whilst we do collect data on Deputy District Judge sittings in the Magistrates’ Court, the data held centrally does not allow us robustly to identify how many of the 88 primary appointment Deputy District Judges sat each week or month.

Decisions as to when to list cases before Deputy District Judges rather than a panel of lay magistrates are made by the judiciary.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL10909
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Barristers Magistrates Solicitors
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk