After completing an interesting fortnight on jury service, I decided that I would apply to become a magistrate.

My mother was astounded as she thought (like a lot of people) that I had to have loads of fancy-sounding legal qualifications. My husband was quietly confident that I would achieve my aim and encouraged me all through what I found to be quite a tough and challenging selection and interview process. The instructor at my health club commented that I was probably now 'in the money' and was dumbstruck when I explained that magistrates do not get paid!

Many people are interested in knowing what powers we have, how high the fines and how long the prison sentences can be, and what other types of punishment are available. I often have to decline daytime social invitations, saying 'I'm afraid I can't make it as I shall be in court all day', and the reactions can be very funny. People cannot make out if I am appearing in court as a defendant and until I say 'I'm a magistrate', they do look at me strangely! Then they usually comment 'That must be so interesting - how often do you do it? Have you ever sent anyone to prison?'

My friends now know that I cannot say very much about cases I have sat on, and therefore don't ask too many questions, but they are, nevertheless, interested in the judicial process and the outcomes of any trials.

As for my extremely supportive husband, he calmly makes a note of all my sittings in his diary, offers to cook dinner on the nights when I have been in court all day, sends me off with a cheery 'Have a good day dispensing justice' and has only been into court once to see me 'in action', as it were. I think he probably finds it a little strange to bow to his wife!

Maggie Puttick sits on the East Dorset Bench.