Stipendiary Magistrate meaning

A stipendiary magistrate is a salaried, legally qualified judge who sits alone to hear and determine summary criminal matters in magistrates' courts, exercising case management, trial and sentencing powers, in contrast to unpaid lay justices. England and Wales: the title is now historical. Following the Access to Justice Act 1999, stipendiary magistrates are called district judges (magistrates' courts). They are legally qualified (typically solicitors or barristers/advocates) and preside over magistrates' courts' criminal and certain civil jurisdictions. Scotland: stipendiary magistrates were legally qualified office-holders (commonly in Glasgow) who sat in the Justice of the Peace Court with enhanced sentencing powers. The office has been abolished and equivalent summary business is now dealt with by sheriffs and summary sheriffs; JP courts otherwise sit with lay justices. Northern Ireland and Ireland: the term is not used. Magistrates' courts in Northern Ireland are presided over by district judges (magistrates' courts) (formerly resident magistrates). In Ireland, District Court judges perform the comparable role. The expression appears in older legislation, case law and historical practice materials; modern usage should refer to the current judicial titles above.