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MOCK trials will take place at a court as it opens to the public today (Saturday) and calls on more to become magistrates.

All criminal cases, from speeding to murder, are first heard in magistrates’ courts and 96 per cent of cases are decided there too.

Magistrates work in teams of three, with the support of a legal adviser, and make important decisions on bail, custody, trials and sentencing on a whole range of crimes.

But magistrates do not need legal qualifications. Candidates need to be aged 18 upwards, and be able to commit 13 days a year.

Magistrates come from all backgrounds, all sectors of the community and from a wide range of occupations.

Hertfordshire Magistrates’ bench chairman Rosemary Eames said: “It’s a challenging, but worthwhile role, and we need to ensure we have a good mix of fair-minded people, from all walks of life.

“To help balance the current mix of people on our benches it would be good to see more young people apply, but we offer equal opportunities to all applicants, and welcome diversity.”

*To find out more, attend the open day at Central Herts Magistrates’ Court in Civic Close, St Albans, today (Saturday) between 10am and 1pm.