Commentary Background Commentary on Sections Section 4 - Lay justices
27.This section places a duty on principal local authorities to promote understanding among local people of lay justices. Lay justices are unsalaried magistrates, as opposed to “District Judges (Magistrates’ Courts)” (previously known as stipendiary magistrates) who are full-time salaried members of the judiciary. Principal local authorities are required to provide information about what lay justices do, how a member of the public can become a lay justice and what the role involves.