Lay judges (that is, with no legal qualifications), known as justices of the peace or magistrates, are the norm in the lowest level of courts in England and Wal

Lay judges (that is, with no legal qualifications), known as justices of the peace or magistrates, are the norm in the lowest level of courts in England and Wales (and, with some differences, in Scotland). They receive training and are always assisted by a legally qualified clerk to advise on points of law and to make sure that proper procedures are observed. In England and Wales they always sit as a bench of three; in Scotland, it's more common for them to sit alone.