§ Mr. Nicholas Brownasked the Attorney-General if he will publish the criteria governing the selection of magistrates.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe primary requirement is that those appointed should be personally suitable in character, integrity and understanding. The Lord Chancellor also bears in mind the need for each bench to reflect the community it serves in such matters as age, sex occupation, social background, location of residence and political opinion. Finally, candidates for appointment should normally reside in or within 15 miles of the commission area in which they seek to serve.
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§ Mr. Nicholas Brownasked the Attorney-General if he will publish the membership of the selection committee for magistrates for the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo. It is the policy of the Lord Chancellor to leave each advisory committee to decide whether or not to publish the names of its members. The Newcastle upon Tyne advisory committee has not wished to have its membership disclosed.