Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of the compulsory retirement age on the retention of experienced magistrates, and whether Ministers have considered alternatives such as regular competency assessments for those who wish to continue sitting beyond 75.

The mandatory retirement age for judicial office holders, including magistrates was increased from 70 to 75 in March 2022. 797 magistrates aged 70 or over were reinstated as a result of the policy change, and as of 1 April 2026 1,933 magistrates in post were aged 70 or over.

There are no plans to replace the mandatory retirement age with regular competency assessments for magistrates aged over 75. A fixed retirement age supports judicial independence and public confidence in the judiciary by avoiding the need for individual assessments of the health or competency of judicial office holders.