<P> In addition to the lay justices, there are a small number of district judges, formerly known as stipendiary magistrates . These are legally qualified, full - time members of the magistracy and hear cases alone, without any other magistrates on the bench . It is important to distinguish the district judge (magistrates' court) from the district judges who usually sit in the county court . </P> <P> Magistrates' courts today can deal with minor offences (fines of up to £ 5,000, or imprisonment of up to six months for a single offence or 12 months for consecutive sentences, or both) and handle over 95% of the criminal cases in England and Wales and Northern Ireland . With more serious offences, magistrates are responsible for indictment and committal to the Crown Court (a task in former times dealt with by a grand jury). Magistrates also have a civil jurisdiction, such as a family jurisdiction . Although they had a licensing jurisdiction dealing liquor, betting and clubs licensing applications, this was transferred under the Licensing Act 2003 to local authorities . The magistrates now act in licensing matters only as an appeal court from the decisions of the local authority . </P> <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>

How do you find a justice of the peace