Pre-reading activities: Read, think and discuss Magistrates and the magistrates court In England, a magistrate is a person appointed to try minor offences. He is either an unpaid layman or, in London and some other large cities, a paid judicial officer In England, every district has a magistrates court. It is the lowest court of law. The magistrates court can only try people for minor i.e. not very serious, offences >>morePre-reading activities: Read, think and discuss Magistrates and the magistrates’ court In England, a magistrate is a person appointed to try minor offences. He is either an unpaid layman or, in London and some other large cities, a paid judicial officer. In England, every district has a magistrates’ court. It is the lowest court of law. The magistrates’ court can only try people for minor, i.e. not very serious, offences. >>>more