Sangeeta, of Indian heritage, is from Bradford and is a part of the magistracy in West Yorkshire. She initially joined the magistracy as a stay-at-home mum looking for an opportunity to explore a new stimulating venture. She has seen the positive impact of her role in the magistracy first-hand and over 15 years later still finds the role incredibly rewarding.
She spoke exclusively to Asian Voice about it.
Tell us how you initially decided to take up this role and what it took to land it. Speak about your Indian Heritage and roots.
I heard about the national recruitment campaign for diverse magistrates on the radio, as I was driving my toddler to a soft-play centre, and it excited me!
My grandparents are of Indian origin and migrated to East Africa. I have always been interested in the law. My paternal Grandfather studied law in England and was called to the bar in 1953, and he would have encouraged me to be a magistrate. It felt like the right challenge at the right time!
You initially joined the magistracy as a stay-at-home mum looking for an opportunity to explore a new stimulating venture. What was it like as a South Asian woman to juggle this?
I was working as a Welfare Benefits specialist in London, when I had my first child, and had little time at home with him. When my second child was born, I decided to take time off. We had moved to West Yorkshire. After a year of being at home, I was ready for a different kind of challenge and to learn something new. My parents and husband have always supported my interests and know there is no stopping me. My mother-in-law played a huge part helping with childcare so I could prepare for interviews and attend the training. Then, she was able to stay on if court sittings ran late. Their support was crucial.
Why is the role of women, especially ethnic minority women important in the judiciary? What do they bring to the table which is different from their white and male counterparts?
A big part of being a magistrate is the ability to work with others in a team and to make decisions. We all bring our unique skills and perspectives, alongside applying the law and the sentencing guidelines. It is vital, when making judicial decisions, that we are all from varied backgrounds and careers. More importantly, we as magistrates must reflect the communities we serve and give the public confidence that we understand the people and the situations that we are being asked to judge.
Why should more South Asians apply for such roles and why is diversity important in the judiciary?
Having magistrates from different backgrounds means that the decision-making can be stronger and based on diverse perspectives. We should always reflect the communities with which we are working. It is important that all court users have confidence in the judiciary and can see the representation. South Asians are also a diverse group, many being born in the UK with parents and grandparents who left their homes and possessions, perhaps twice and had to start over. Many of us were raised with a strong work ethic and feel strongly about values such as democracy and freedom. It is rewarding to be part of the legal system as well as to give back our time to the community. South Asians can and should bring their rich, cultural knowledge to the table.
What does it mean to you and your family, especially coming from Indian Heritage to be able to successfully be in such a role for more than 15 years?
I was raised as a strong, independent woman, and my family are proud that I can use my skills to contribute to serving in my community. I am fair, good at making decisions based on evidence and applying the law and guidance before me. Being a magistrate is stimulating and rewarding and a challenge, but you are always learning and working as a team. If you think you have these skills, then please do consider applying. Having magistrates from all diverse backgrounds makes the system fairer and the decision-making richer. To find out more about the role and how to apply visit icanbeamagistrate.co.uk.
