When at 38, Anne Fuller wanted to be a magistrate in the 1970s, she was told she was too young. Then magistrates were often middle-aged and middle-class. The women had to wear a hat and gloves. Two years later she applied again and was accepted. Now magistrates can be as young as 18 and diversity is encouraged. David Singh was only 27 when he joined the bench at Wimbledon. There have also been many changes in legislation from traffic offences to the Children Act and Human Right's Act and more recently a move to virtual courts with video links to prisoners in jail and witness video evidence.

Reporter: Sara Parker

Producer: Laura Parfitt
A Juniper production for BBC Radio 4. Show less