YORK magistrates have welcomed five new recruits to their number in the annual swearing-in ceremony at their Clifford Street courthouse.

All five new justices of the peace swore an oath of loyalty to the Queen and promised to use their new office only to further justice.

The five had to go through a rigorous selection procedure and had training before they were passed as suitable and ready to sit in judgement.

They will now sit as junior members of a three-man bench on criminal cases in the adult court only. After further training, they can join magistrates sitting in the youth court or family court.

Updated: 11:15 Thursday, May 18, 2006