The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State’s Directions for Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace
Updated March 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 November 2025.
There is one version of the Directions, which all Advisory Committees must follow. These Directions apply consistently across all areas in England and Wales.
The Directions are set out in five parts:
- 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
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.
Directions
Part 1
Lord Chancellor’s Directions for Advisory Committees – Introduction and Part 1 (PDF)
Rhan 1 – Pwyllgorau Ymgynghorol (PDF)
Appendix 1A – HMCTS parameters for recruitment activity (PDF)
Paramedrau Ymarferion Recriwtio Ynadon (PDF)
Appendix 1B (Part 1) – Advisory Committee application guidance (Word doc)
Canllawiau I Ymgeiswyr Sy’n Dymuno Dod Yn Aelod O Bwyllgor Ymgynghorol (Word doc)
Appendix 1B (Part 2) – Advisory Committee application form (Word doc)
Appendix 1C (Part 1) – Reference for applicant for non-magistrate member referees (PDF)
Geirda ar gyfer unigolyn sy’n gwneud cais i ddod yn aelod nad yw’n ynad o bwyllgor ymgynghorol neu is-bwyllgor ar ynadon heddwch yr Arglwydd Ganghellor (PDF)
Appendix 1C (Part 2) – Guidance for referees (Word doc)
Geirda ar gyfer unigolyn sy’n gwneud cais i ddod yn aelod nad yw’n ynad o bwyllgor ymgynghorol neu is-bwyllgor ar ynadon heddwch yr Arglwydd Ganghellor – canllaw i ganolwyr (Word doc)
Appendix 1D – Diversity monitoring form (PDF)
Ffurflen monitro amrywiaeth (Word doc)
Appendix 1E – Assessment form (Word doc)
Ffurflen asesu ar gyfer ymgeiswyr sy’n dymuno dod yn aelod o bwyllgor ymgynghorol (Word doc)
Appendix 1F – Appointments confirmatory statement (Word doc)
Datganiad Cadarnhau Penodiad (Word doc)
Appendix 1G – Declaration Register (Word doc)
Datganiad ar gyfer cofrestru buddiannau aelodau pwyllgor ymgynghorol (Word doc)
Appendix 1H – Register of advisory committee members interests (PDF)
Cofrestr buddiannau aelodau pwyllgor neu is-bwyllgor ymgynghorol (Word doc)
Appendix 1I – Template of advertising Advisory Committee vacancies (PDF)
Templed ar gyfer rhoi hysbysebion am swyddi gwag penodiadau cyhoeddus ar wefan Swyddfa’r Cabinet (PDF)
Appendix 1J – Handling complaints against Advisory Committee members, Chairs and Secretaries (PDF)
Delio â chwynion a wnaed yn erbyn aelodau, ysgrifenyddion a chadeiryddion pwyllgorau ymgynghorol (PDF)
Part 2
Lord Chancellor’s Directions for Advisory Committees – Part 2 (PDF)
Rhan 2 – Meini prawf cymhwysedd ar gyfer yr ynadaeth (PDF)
Appendix 2A – Guidance on eligibility for the criminal court (Word doc)
Cyfarwyddyd ar gymhwysedd yn y llys troseddol (Word doc)
Appendix 2B – Guidance on eligibility for the family court (PDF)
Cyfarwyddyd ar gymhwysedd yn y llys teulu (PDF)
Part 3
Lord Chancellor’s Directions for Advisory Committees – Part 3 (PDF)
Rhan 3 — Y broses ddethol ar gyfer ynadon (PDF)
Appendix 3A – Guidance for the recruitment of Welsh Language-essential magistrates (Word doc)
Cyfarwyddyd ar recriwtio ynadon i swyddi lle mae’r gallu i siarad Cymraeg yn hanfodol (Word doc)
Appendix 3B – Guidance for referees following an application for appointment as a magistrate (PDF)
Arweiniad i ganolwyr yn dilyn cais gan unigolyn i ddod yn ynad (PDF)
Part 4
Lord Chancellor’s Directions for Advisory Committees Part 4 (PDF)
Rhan 4 – Cyflwyno argymhellion ar gyfer penodi (PDF)
Appendix 4A – Declaration and undertaking form (Word doc)
Datganiad ac ymgymeriad (Word doc)
Part 5
Lord Chancellor’s Directions for Advisory Committees – Part 5 (PDF)
Rhan 5 – Materion ar ôl penodi (PDF)
Appendix 5A – Application transfer to another local justice area (Word doc)
Cais i drosglwyddo i Ardal Cyfiawnder Lleol arall (Word doc)
Appendix 5B – Bench chair’s reference for transfer to another local justice area (Word doc)
Geirda Cadeirydd Mainc yn Dilyn Cais gan Ynad i Drosglwyddo i Ardal Cyfiawnder Lleol (Word doc)
Appendix 5C – Approval or refusal of transfer requests – Bench Chairs Decision (Word doc)
Argymhelliad i gymeradwyo neu wrthod cais i drosglwyddo: Argymhelliad y Cadeirydd Mainc (Word doc)
Appendix 5D – Transfers and re-appointments checklist for Bench and TDC chairs (Word doc)
Trosglwyddiadau ac ail-benodiadau: Rhestr wirio ar gyfer Cadeiryddion Meinciau a Phwyllgorau Hyfforddi a Datblygu wrth gyfarfod ynadon newydd (Word doc)
Appendix 5E – Application to Return from Supplemental List to the Active List (Word doc)
Cyfarwyddiadau’r Arglwydd Ganghellor, Atodiad 5E (Word doc)