<P> Cardiff Magistrates' Court is the only court in the country which deals with offences under the Companies Act, such as for late filing of accounts or directors' offences . Westminster Magistrates' Court has special responsibilities for dealing with all terrorism and extradition offences throughout the UK . </P> <P> Until the Courts Act 2003 came into force, magistrates were tied to a particular area (see magistrates' courts committee, commission area, petty sessions area). This has now been changed such that they are assigned to local justice areas, but less strongly . </P> <P> The Courts Act provides the current framework for appointment of the justices, which is done by the Lord Chancellor in the name of sovereign . Justices can also be removed by the same mechanism . District judges (magistrates' court)--previously known as stipendiary magistrates--must have a seven years' general legal qualification, and are appointed by the sovereign on the advice of the Lord Chancellor . </P> <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>

Who classifies as a justice of the peace