We often talk about the importance of the 'rule of law'. It is a key concept in any properly developed democratic society. But it is much more than conceptual. It is deeply practical.The law underpins everything we do. Day-to-day, this is often easily forgotten. For the rule of law to work in practice, people must have confidence it will be fairly and consistently applied, that it is accessible -regardless of background, creed or wealth -and that the judgements of those who manage and oversee it can be properly enforced.The principles of local justice and justice by one's peers are as old as they are important and both are engrained within the fabric of our nation's world-respected legal processes. It is also accepted as a truism that 'justice must not only be done, but seen to be done', and yet, while there is great potential to improve outcomes across a range of areas through closer co-operation between local government and the judiciary, the actual on-the-ground interface between the two remains somewhat limited. In days gone by, one enduring link was the magistracy, which recruited many of its ranks from the public sector and local government
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