Closed petition Require family court cases with domestic abuse issues to be heard by a judge

Closed on 26 November 2022

You don’t need any formal qualifications to be a Magistrate.

Victims of Domestic Abuse have to rely upon people who receive basic training, and legal advisors, making decisions that affect child arrangement orders possibly placing children in danger. These cases should be referred so they can be heard by a Judge in court.

Findings are being made by Lay Magistrates daily in Family Court proceedings yet Lay Magistrates only have to be in receipt of 3.5 days basic training, some private study, and then assigned a 'mentor'.

Magistrates are not necessarily trained in victim behaviour after abuse, ability to recognize a pattern of abusive behaviour and recognizing controlling and coercive behaviour.

I would like the Government to ensure that family court cases where domestic violence is an issue are only heard in court by a Judge.