Liberal Judaism chief executive Rabbi Danny Rich made his own small piece of legal history this week, as he presided over the last ever trial at Kingston Magistrates' Court. He said, "it was an immense privilege to serve the public in a voluntary capacity as a magistrate on the Kingston Bench.  We all knew that the Court would close last week but I was not conscious that it would be the last trial until we were informed at its conclusion by our legal adviser.  My colleagues and I were concentrating on the details of the alleged 'careless driving'.  I shall continue to serve but in Wimbledon".

There has been a Magistrates' Court in Kingston since it first received a royal charter more than 500 years ago. However, under the Government's public spending measures, Kingston's work will now be transferred to Wimbledon.

Danny has been a Justice of the Peace since 1996, chairing both adult and youth courts.