Friends Programme, January 2008At the January Friend’s meeting we were very pleased to welcome Rotary District 1090 Ambassadorial Scholar, Lisa Morris, who spoke on her project in South Africa. She explained why she thinks she was awarded the Scholarship, her project in South Africa as well her previous work in Uganda and Rwanda. It was a very interesting talk and an opportunity to hear our own 1090 Ambassadorial Scholar. For the February Friend’s meeting we are very pleased to welcome Mark Lovett and Robin Cops who will talk to us about “the work of the magistracy in general and their work in particular on the East Berkshire Magistrates”. Robin Cops has been on the East Berkshire Bench since 2003 and Mark Lovett since 1996. Mark is now Deputy Chairman of the East Berkshire Bench (177 JPs). East Berkshire has courts in Bracknell, Maidenhead and Slough (which is also the HQ) --- they both sit in all three locations as well on appeals at Reading Crown Court. They are prepared to address and answer questions on all aspects of Criminal Justice and to provide local examples. They have asked us to remember that they are not lawyers, merely unpaid members of the community who are trained in judicial decision making. On the other hand nearly all criminal cases start with them. Format for the evening |