RADICALLY RE-WRITTEN AND UPDATED FOR 2010
An appreciation by Phillip Taylor MBE and Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers
This is very much a practical handbook written for Waterside Press by Bryan Gibson – a barrister, ably assisted by consultant, Mike Watkins, who conducts training courses for magistrates. This first rung criminal court, of which both authors have considerable experience, handles in excess of 90% of criminal cases; indeed every criminal case commences in this court.
The magistrates, although not legally qualified, (but supported by qualified advisers) are concerned and committed citizens who, following their course of training, give their time up to serve their local communities.
One of our oldest public institutions, magistrate's courts – in which magistrates perform an unpaid public service – have no equal anywhere else in the world. The “Timeline” at the back is a great illustrator of the history of summary justice for the curious.
The popularity of this unique handbook is amply demonstrated by the fact that the first edition came out 20 years ago when there was no book like it. So, anyone who was unfamiliar with the topic, whether they were new magistrates, practitioners, or laymen simply had to learn from scratch.
Gibson & Watkins refer to the tendency, sometimes, across the Criminal Justice System (CJS), to “speak in code” and express the hope that anything like this book which helps people to understand the everyday language of the courts will serve to alleviate this. It is no small wonder, then, that this excellent book has remained in print for two decades.
This new 5th edition has not merely been updated; it's the result of a radical rethink. As the authors explain, this edition ‘is a completely fresh one, re-written so as to incorporate the best of the old, but also to take account of the way in which the magistracy and the way in which the magistrates’ courts are administered, have evolved towards the end of the first decade of the twenty-first century. Naturally, it also takes account of many changes of law, practice, procedure and sentencing'.
With graphs, tables, diagrams, a glossary of terms, timeline and useful index, not to mention expert commentary and analysis based on the practical experience of the authors, this timely and up-to-date handbook will help guide you through the complexities of the Magistrates' Court as it is at present constituted and run.
It's aimed at a much wide readership unlike either “Anthony & Berryman” or the massive 3 volume “Stone's Justices' Manual” both of which are more technical. This work is obviously a must for the police and magistrates, especially newly appointed magistrates. In addition, it's ideal for ordinary members of the public as general reading with many useful training techniques employed in the text to make the reading easier.
Its subtitle, ‘An Introduction’, is certainly apt and it should also be required reading for anyone seeking to understand, or involved directly or indirectly, with the criminal justice system. It really is a benchmark book managing the basic concepts with a suitable level of detail radically re-written and updated for 2010… And no cases!
