UK launches major push to recruit more magistrates to reduce court backlogs
英國啟動大規模招募行動以增聘地方法官，旨在緩解法院案件積壓問題
To address significant delays in the legal system, the UK government has launched an ambitious initiative to recruit more volunteer magistrates.
為了因應司法系統中嚴重的延宕問題，英國政府已啟動一項雄心勃勃的計畫，旨在招募更多志願治安法官。
By March 2029, the aim is to increase the total number of magistrates to 21,000 to help clear record-breaking backlogs and ensure swifter justice.
目標是在2029年3月前，將治安法官的總人數提升至21,000人，以協助清除積壓的案件並確保司法更加迅速。
Magistrates, often called Justices of the Peace, are unpaid volunteers from diverse backgrounds who handle approximately 95–97% of criminal cases.
治安法官（通常被稱為和平法官）是來自多元背景的無薪志願者，他們處理了約95%至97%的刑事案件。
To reach this goal, the Ministry of Justice is implementing quarterly recruitment drives and streamlining the application process.
為達成此目標，司法部正實施每季度的招募活動，並簡化申請流程。
These changes are part of a broader 'Plan for Change,' which also includes granting magistrates more sentencing power to reduce the pressure on Crown courts.
這些變革是「變革計畫」的一環，該計畫亦包括授予治安法官更大的判刑權，以減輕皇家法院的壓力。
Critics emphasize that the system also requires better court infrastructure, more legal advisers, and improved support for volunteers to ensure they are not left out of pocket.
批評者強調，該系統還需要更好的法庭基礎設施、更多的法律顧問，以及為志願者提供更完善的支援，以確保他們不會因此蒙受經濟損失。
While the recruitment drive is a positive step, success ultimately depends on whether these efforts are matched by holistic reforms to the overall judicial framework.
儘管此次招募活動是積極的一步，但其成功與否，最終取決於這些努力是否能與對整體司法架構的全面性改革相互配合。
