what? a magistrate is unpaid in the uk?!
i thought she was a lawyer of some sort or that she served on the town council....
i wondered what was wrong with her husband adam? was he just depressed and alcoholic? why didn't she get him help?
Indeed, my father was a magistrate, but that wasn't his job. I believe he got expenses, but that was it. I'd been wondering too how she earned a living.
shareNo, magistrates don't get paid salary or fees, though, like jurors, they can claim for loss of earnings if they take time off work for judicial duties. Possibly the writer intended Marley to be a 'stipendiary magistrate', although the title was changed to 'district judge' many years ago. District judges are appointed by the Lord Chancellor's office and can be salaried or fee-paid. They have to be legally qualified with substantial criminal courts experience, and there's a lot of competition for posts. It's very unlikely that anyone as young (and gormless) as Marley would get anywhere near appointment.
share