Magistrates Public List explained
Short answer: The Magistrates Public List is the published schedule of cases a magistrates' court expects to hear. It shows times, courtrooms, case references and hearing types, but limits personal details. Find your case by its reference number, remember some hearings are not published, and always follow your court letter.
Magistrates’ courts hear most criminal cases in England and Wales, and their public list is the document most people will search for. This page explains what the Magistrates Public List shows, what it does not, and how to use it.
What the Magistrates Public List is
The list is a schedule of the cases a magistrates’ court expects to hear, published by HM Courts & Tribunals Service. It is meant for public use: people attending, relatives, journalists, and anyone who wants to see what is happening in court. It is organised by courtroom and time, and is normally displayed inside the building too.
Magistrates’ courts deal with less serious criminal cases, such as minor theft, driving offences and public order matters, and the first hearing in more serious cases. Our magistrates’ court guide explains what happens in the room.
What the list typically shows
| Column | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Court or courtroom | The building and the room |
| Time | When the court expects to sit. Your case may be called later |
| Case reference | The number that identifies your case |
| Hearing type | What kind of hearing it is, such as a first appearance or trial |
| Case or offence information | A short description, where the official list gives it |
What is left out
To protect privacy and follow the law, public lists do not show everything. You will usually not see addresses, ages or free-text notes. Names may be limited. On this website, defendants’ first names are never stored or shown. Youth cases, and cases with reporting restrictions, are skipped.
How to find your hearing
- Take the case reference from your court letter.
- Open the court’s page on this site, or the official list.
- Look for the reference, and then note the time and courtroom.
- Confirm the details on the screens when you arrive.
You can also search every list by case reference.
Why many cases are listed at once
A magistrates’ court often lists a large number of cases at the same time, because most hearings are brief. The court calls them in turn, usually starting with people in custody and those with a lawyer ready. That means you may wait. Tell the usher you have arrived, and stay close to the courtroom.
Which list is mine?
| If your case is… | Look at… |
|---|---|
| Heard in a magistrates’ court in public | This list |
| A more serious case, in the Crown Court | The Crown Daily List |
| Decided on paper by a single magistrate | The Single Justice Procedure list |
| A fuller version of the day’s magistrates’ list | The Magistrates Standard List |
Hearings that are not on the list
Some hearings do not appear, including youth court hearings, some family matters and certain private proceedings. A late addition may also be missing at first. Read why isn’t my case listed? before you worry, and then contact the court or your solicitor.
Using the list as a visitor
If you want to watch a hearing, the list helps you choose a case that interests you. Read our public gallery guide for the rules on behaviour and recording.
Using the list as a reporter
Check the official list, ask the court about any restrictions and follow the rules on fair reporting. Our court reporting guide has more.
How fresh is the information?
We check courts regularly and show when HMCTS last updated each list and when we last checked it, in UK time. Lists can change at short notice, so the official service remains the authority. Our page on how we get our lists explains more.
Find a court
Browse the magistrates’ courts directory for addresses and today’s lists, and read finding your courtroom before your visit.
Frequently asked questions
Why are names missing from the list?
Public lists limit personal details. On this site, defendants' first names are never stored or shown. Use your case reference to find your hearing.
Is the youth court on the public list?
Youth court hearings are not open to the public, and they do not appear on this website. Contact the court if you need information about a youth hearing you are involved in.
Why was my case not published?
The list may not be published yet, your hearing may be private or in a different list, or it may have been added late. See our guide on why a case may not be listed.
How often does the list change?
It can change several times, because cases are added, moved or withdrawn. Check the official list on the morning of your hearing and the screens on arrival.