May 3, 2019

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State’s Directions for Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace

Magistrates' court Practice Guidance Reports

Updated February 2026

This edition of the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State’s Directions for Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace replaces the edition issued in October 2023.

From 1 November 2025, there are two versions of the Directions:

A standard version, which reflects standard updates to recruitment, appointment, and oversight processes.

A Pathways version, which includes amended Parts 1 and 3 only. Regions using this version should continue to follow Parts 2, 4, and 5, and all annexes, as normal.

Areas that should use all standard versions are those in London, Midlands, North East regions and Wales.

For areas in Wales, please note: the Directions are currently being translated into Welsh, and these will be made available before the next scheduled round of recruitment campaigns.

Areas that should use the Pathway version of Parts 1 and 3 are those in North West, South East and South West.

For further information on which AC area you sit in, please visit: Advisory Committee Recruitment Plan – Magistrates Recruitment

The document is laid out in five parts, with two alternative parts for the Pathways Programme:

Part 1 – Advisory committees

Part 2 – Eligibility for the magistracy

Part 3 – The selection process for magistrates

Part 4 – Submitting recommendations for appointment

Part 5 – Matters arising after appointment

Pathways Part 1 – Advisory committees

Pathways Part 3 – The selection process for magistrates

Advisory Committees must adhere to these Directions and use the materials available in the committee toolkit. It is recognised that the Directions cannot cater for every circumstance that will arise in the course of a committee’s work. Committees should use sensible discretion in dealing with such issues, ensuring they do not deviate from the spirit of the Directions. They should always seek guidance from Magistrates HR at the Judicial Office (details of whom are circulated regularly) about any queries regarding the application of these Directions to a particular issue.

Since commencement of the Crime and Courts Act 2013, the Lady Chief Justice has been responsible in legislation for the appointment of magistrates.  The Lady Chief Justice (in accordance with Schedule 13 of the Act) has delegated her power to appoint magistrates to the Senior Presiding Judge. The Lord Chancellor holds joint responsibility with the Lady Chief Justice for others matters pertaining to magistrates, including disciplinary responsibility.

This document can be accessed below. Hard-copies will only be made available in exceptional circumstances. Any requests for hard-copies, or for copies in alternative formats, should be made to the Magistrates HR Team.

Mae’r rhifyn hwn o Gyfarwyddiadau’r Arglwydd Ganghellor a’r Ysgrifennydd Gwladol i Bwyllgorau Ymgynghorol ar Ynadon Heddwch yn disodli’r rhifyn a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Hydref 2023.

O’r 1af o Dachwedd, bydd dwy fersiwn o’r Cyfarwyddiadau:

Fersiwn safonol, sy’n adlewyrchu diweddariadau safonol i brosesau recriwtio, penodi a goruchwylio.
Fersiwn llwybrau, sy’n cynnwys Rhan 1 a Rhan 3 wedi’u diwygio yn unig. Dylai rhanbarthau sy’n defnyddio’r fersiwn hon barhau i ddilyn Rhannau 2, 4 a 5, a’r holl atodiadau, fel yr arfer.

Yr ardaloedd a ddylai ddefnyddio’r holl fersiynau safonol yw ardaloedd Llundain, Canolbarth Lloegr, rhanbarthau Gogledd-ddwyrain Lloegr a Chymru.

Yr ardaloedd a ddylai ddefnyddio Fersiwn llwybrau Rhannau 1 a 3 yw ardaloedd Gogledd-orllewin Lloegr, De-ddwyrain Lloegr a De-orllewin Lloegr.

Am ragor o wybodaeth ynghylch pa ardal Pwyllgor Ymgynghorol rydych chi’n rhan ohoni, ewch i: Advisory Committee Recruitment Plan – Magistrates Recruitment

Mae’r ddogfen wedi’i gosod allan mewn 5 rhan, gyda dwy ran amgen ar gyfer y Rhaglen Llwybrau:

Rhan 1 – Pwyllgorau Ymgynghorol

Rhan 2 – Meini prawf cymhwysedd ar gyfer yr ynadaeth

Rhan 3 – Y broses ddethol ar gyfer ynadon

Rhan 4 – Cyflwyno argymhellion ar gyfer penodi

Rhan 5 – Materion yn codi ar ôl penodi

Llwybrau Rhan 1 – Pwyllgorau Ymgynghorol

Llwybrau Rhan 3 – Y broses ddethol ar gyfer ynadon

Rhaid i Bwyllgorau Ymgynghorol gydymffurfio â’r Cyfarwyddiadau hyn a defnyddio’r deunyddiau sydd ar gael yn y pecyn offer Pwyllgor Ymgynghorol. Cydnabyddir na all y Cyfarwyddiadau ymdrin â phob amgylchiad a all godi yn ystod gwaith unrhyw Bwyllgor Ymgynghorol. Dylai Pwyllgorau ddefnyddio disgresiwn synhwyrol wrth ddelio â materion o’r fath, gan sicrhau nad ydynt yn gwyro oddi wrth ysbryd y Cyfarwyddiadau. Dylent bob amser geisio cyngor gan Adnoddau Dynol Ynadon yn y Swyddfa Farnwrol (mae manylion amdanynt yn cael eu cylchredeg yn rheolaidd) ynghylch unrhyw ymholiadau sy’n ymwneud â chymhwyso’r Cyfarwyddiadau hyn i fater penodol.

O dan Ddeddf Troseddau a Llysoedd 2013, mae’r Arglwyddes Brif Ustus wedi bod yn gyfrifol yn ôl y gyfraith am benodi ynadon. Mae’r Arglwyddes Brif Ustus (yn unol ag Atodlen 13 o’r Ddeddf) wedi dirprwyo ei phŵer i benodi ynadon i’r Uwch Farnwr Llywyddol. Mae’r Arglwydd Ganghellor yn dal cyfrifoldeb ar y cyd â’r Arglwyddes Brif Ustus am faterion eraill sy’n ymwneud ag ynadon, gan gynnwys cyfrifoldeb disgyblu.

Gallwch weld y ddogfen drwy glicio ar y ddolen isod. Dim ond mewn amgylchiadau eithriadol y bydd copïau caled ar gael. Dylid gwneud unrhyw gais am gopïau caled neu fersiynau mewn fformat amgen i Dîm Adnoddau Dynol Ynadon.

Standard Directions

Directions for Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace in London, Midlands, North East regions and Wales

Pathways Directions

Directions for Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace: For regions undertaking Pathways – North West, South East and South West

Please note: Advisory Committees in the North West, South East, and South West regions should continue using Parts 2, 4, and 5 of the Directions, along with all annexes.

Pathways Part 1 – Advisory committees (PDF)

Pathways Part 3 – The selection process for magistrates (PDF)