Magistrates Court Listings
There are 167 courts across 9 regions in England and Wales. Magistrates Courts handle less serious criminal cases, including minor theft, criminal damage, and driving offences. Most criminal cases start in a Magistrates Court.All listings are sourced daily from HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS).
Listings last updated:
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How to Use Magistrates Court Listings
- Find your court from the directory below, organised by region.
- Select a court to view today's hearings with times, courtrooms, and judges.
- Search by case reference or party name to find a specific hearing.
- Set up a free alert to get SMS or email notifications when cases are listed.
London
Midlands
National
North East
North West
South East
South West
Wales
Yorkshire and Humberside
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Magistrates' Court?
Magistrates' Courts handle less serious criminal cases, including minor theft, criminal damage, and driving offences. Most criminal cases in England and Wales start in a Magistrates' Court.
How do I find Magistrates' Court listings on CauseAlert?
CauseAlert publishes daily cause lists from HMCTS for every Magistrates' Court in England and Wales. Use the court list below to open a specific court, or set up a free alert to be notified when new hearings are listed.
How often are Magistrates' Courts listings updated?
HMCTS typically publishes daily cause lists by 4pm the day before hearings. CauseAlert checks for updates every hour and reflects changes within 60 minutes of publication.
Are Magistrates' Courts hearings open to the public?
Most Magistrates' Court hearings are open to the public, although certain youth and family matters are held in private.
What kinds of cases are heard at Magistrates' Courts?
Magistrates' Courts deal with summary offences, either-way offences at first appearance, bail applications, and the single justice procedure.
How many Magistrates' Courts are there in England and Wales?
There are approximately 167 Magistrates' Courts across England and Wales. All Magistrates' Courts cause lists are published daily by HM Courts & Tribunals Service.
How do I set up alerts for Magistrates' Courts hearings?
Create a free CauseAlert account and add a subscription for any specific court, case reference, or party name. You'll receive SMS or email notifications whenever a matching hearing is listed at a Magistrates' Court.
How do I find out who's in Magistrates' Court today?
Select any Magistrates' Court from the list above to view today's cause list. Each listing shows case references, party names (where published by HMCTS), hearing times, and courtrooms. You can also set up a free alert to be notified when specific names or cases are listed.
Where can I find Magistrates' Court sentencing results?
CauseAlert shows scheduled hearings, including cases listed for sentencing. However, outcomes (verdicts and sentences) are not published through HMCTS cause lists. For sentencing remarks, check the Judiciary website (judiciary.uk) or local news coverage.
What is the Single Justice Procedure (SJP)?
The Single Justice Procedure allows a single magistrate to deal with minor, non-imprisonable offences (like TV licence evasion or minor road traffic offences) on paper, without a public hearing. Defendants can plead guilty by post or online. If you plead not guilty, the case is listed for a full hearing.
What does a 'mention' hearing mean at a Magistrates' Court?
A mention hearing is a short procedural hearing where the court checks on the progress of a case. No evidence is heard and no verdict is given. The court may set dates for trial, check that disclosure is complete, or deal with bail applications.
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Court data sourced from HM Courts & Tribunals Service, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Crown copyright.