From the sample above it is obvious that age restriction rules are arbitrary. Physiologists and psychologists agree that the human brain does not attain complete adult functioning processes until the early twenties. Age and gender related politics have been a cultural phenomenon for twenty years in the West. The latest addition to this mindset is the furore we hear almost every day in one form or another over "trans" people and their so called rights. Even this morning on R4 "Today" there was a proponent on eligibility for such indeterminate people in female Olympic events. I would posit that the virtually universal acclaim for 18 year old magistrates is as much a politically directed socially accepted position as the wish to reinstate the death penalty for treason and the murder of police officers is the direct opposite. Similar arguments, I believe, had much to do with the Brexit argument being lost by those who did most to promote it. "Go with the flow", "be on the right side" and similar tendencies for many people not to disagree with a supposed "mainstream" have put us in this position.
A 22 year old magistrate who has barely finished his induction training gave an interview last week to BBC. I have no idea at all with whom or with what agencies he made contact prior to the event if at all. I have no idea whether he instigated such proceedings or what was sought out by the BBC or any agencies as mentioned above. All I do know that unsurprisingly he messed up. He was quoted quite correctly as saying inter alia, " 'Being a magistrate is challenging, it does test you and your morals. It is just about following your gut instinct,' As soon as critical comments emerged on social media the helping hands of apologists swiftly enveloped him. At the risk of making comments with virtually no detailed knowledge of this man except what has been published I`m surprised that if somebody is accepted by an Appointments Committee his aspirations in life at his age have not led him to a more inspiring place that being a Tesco till operator. I write as one whose father left school at 14 to train as a barber before becoming a British Junior Chess Champion in his late teens and who achieved many social and political positions as befitted his sky high IQ.
My opinion of a necessary requirement for magistrates amongst many others can be summed up in two words, "life experience". I rest my case and hope he and others similar have learned from his error.
You are grossly overreacting to this young JP’s obvious slip of the tongue. Worse still the whole tone is toe-curlingly condescending. What’s wrong with working at Tesco? Having JPs from all walks of life is one of the strengths of the magistracy that sadly has been much eroded of recent times. In any event, as you actually acknowledge, we are told so little about this man that no informed judgment is possible. Which does make it look as if, wholly in the absence of evidence, you are simply ‘following your gut instinct’.
ReplyDeleteFor all we know, however, he may be a management trainee on the way to becoming Tesco’s CEO. Or he may be working at Tesco to support the D.Phil in law he’s undertaking (Note: from one of the photos he does appear to be a graduate).
My gut instinct after more than 40 years on the Bench is that he looks OK and reflects well on the judgment of the Advisory Committee. You are right in thinking that many young people are ill-suited to be magistrates but absolutely wrong in believing that all are. And, incidentally, it’s pretty clear from the BBC story that the story was inspired by MoJ recruiters rather than by Luke putting himself forward.
You are grossly overreacting to this young JP’s obvious slip of the tongue. Worse still the whole tone is toe-curlingly condescending. What’s wrong with working at Tesco? Having JPs from all walks of life is one of the strengths of the magistracy that sadly has been much eroded of recent times. In any event, as you actually acknowledge, we are told so little about this man that no informed judgment is possible. Which does make it look as if, wholly in the absence of evidence, you are simply ‘following your gut instinct’.
ReplyDeleteFor all we know, however, he may be a management trainee on the way to becoming Tesco’s CEO. Or he may be working at Tesco to support the D.Phil in law he’s undertaking (Note: from one of the photos he does appear to be a graduate).
My gut instinct after more than 40 years on the Bench is that he looks OK and reflects well on the judgment of the Advisory Committee. You are right in thinking that many young people are ill-suited to be magistrates but absolutely wrong in believing that all are. And, incidentally, it’s pretty clear from the BBC story that the story was inspired by MoJ recruiters rather than by Luke putting himself forward.
Look on the bright side an application at 18 will take at least a year to process
ReplyDelete