On Thursday afternoon, Mrs Terry, a magistrate, came to talk to Year 6.  We learnt a great deal and asked lots of questions.  She explained that she earns nothing for her work as a magistrate because this role is voluntary.  In the courtroom, there are two ‘wingers’ and a chairman who work together as a team to decide whether the defendant is guilty or not and what the punishment should be. Some people are sent to prison (the maximum time they can award is 6 months) and others are given a suspended sentence and are issued with a tag to wear, which monitors where they are and when they can’t go out.

By Orla and Thomas