Meet the North Yorkshire woman delivering justice this International Women’s Day
Are you willing to help your community and deliver justice? This International Women’s Day (8 March), a North Yorkshire woman, who says with her piercings and tattoos she perhaps doesn’t fit the mould of what most people think a magistrate looks like, said she loved serving her community and wants other women to volunteer too.
With a career that has taken her from local newspaper reporting to working on the front line as a military press officer during the Iraq war, Lynn Dunne’s alternative look may not be most people’s typical image of someone sitting on the bench. But that, she says, is precisely the point.
Lynn, who works as a military press officer, volunteers as a magistrate on the North Yorkshire bench, sitting in both criminal and youth courts. She is also a parent to twin teenage girls and holds a master’s degree in criminology, a qualification she pursued because her time in court opened her eyes to the realities of the justice system in ways she had never anticipated. Lynn says:
“I applied because I thought it was interesting. But it’s probably given me much more than I’ve ever given it.“Working as a newspaper reporter, I developed a fascination with the courts, but it took years before the opportunity arose to act on it. When the North Yorkshire bench began recruiting, I put myself forward and have never looked back.“The role is genuinely transformative. I considered myself a compassionate person before, but sitting in court has deepened that quality in me. As a magistrate, you see far fewer bad people than people who have made bad decisions or found themselves in desperate circumstances.“It’s been a real eye-opener.”
Lynn said victim impact statements could be incredibly powerful and moving and it was important that victims had a voice. She feels there’s a need for greater diversity on the magistrates bench to better reflect the communities they serve, in terms of ethnicity, age, background, class and life experience. She believes her own background as a single parent gives her an empathy that is invaluable in the role.
She is also candid about the fact that her appearance sometimes surprises people, including her own colleagues at work, some of whom have taken months to discover she is a magistrate. But she sees that as part of what makes her effective.
Lynn feels volunteering as a magistrate has made her better at her day job. She has been brought in to assist with workplace investigations, drawing on the skills she has developed in court — evaluating evidence, setting aside bias, and listening carefully to all sides before reaching a considered view. She believes the role offers enormous professional development, and that employers, particularly in the civil service and public sector, should actively encourage their staff to volunteer.
Her message to other women, particularly those who assume the role is not for them, is straightforward: you do not need a legal background, a particular look, or a certain kind of life history. What you need, she says, is an interest in people, an open mind and a willingness to listen. She adds:
“It’s developed parts of my brain and my world awareness that I just wouldn’t have got anywhere else. I really think it’s an amazing thing to do.“More people need to realise it’s not a qualification you need. It’s an interest in people.”
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Give to Gain’, highlighting the importance of recognising women’s contribution and creating opportunities for the future.
The Ministry of Justice is currently looking for people aged 18 and over to volunteer as magistrates, with an expectation of five years’ service. All magistrates receive full training, mentoring, and ongoing support from a legal adviser in court. All decisions are made as part of a bench of magistrates to ensure cases are considered fairly and thoroughly.
To find out more about becoming a magistrate in North Yorkshire or to register your interest, visit icanbeamagistrate.co.uk
Image provided by Ministry of Justice
