<P> Before 1714, magistrates were liable to be approached at any time and in any place by people legally recognised as paupers, appealing for aid if parish authorities refused to provide any . It was relatively common for these magistrates to write out, on the spot, an order requiring aid to be granted . </P> <P> Within the Scottish legal system justices of the peace are lay magistrates who currently sit in the justice of the peace courts . These courts were introduced in 2009 as a replacement for the district courts (established in 1975), which in turn replaced burgh police courts . Justices sit alone or in threes with a qualified legal assessor as convener or clerk of court . They handle many cases of breaches of the peace--drunkenness, minor assaults, petty theft, and offences under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 . </P> <P> The maximum sentencing power of a justice of the peace is 60 days imprisonment, or a fine up to £ 2,500, or both, and the ability to disqualify drivers . </P> <P> In 2006, the Scottish Government announced its intention to unify the management of the sheriff and district courts in Scotland but retain lay justices, as part of its initiative to create a unified judiciary under the Lord President . Following the passage of the Criminal Proceedings etc . (Reform) (Scotland) Act 2007 the justice of the peace courts were implemented on a sheriffdom - by - sheriffdom basis . </P>

Who is a justice of the peace uk