Magistrates' Association honorary officers

• John Thornhill, Chairman
• John Howson, Deputy Chairman
• John Fassenfelt, Deputy Chairman
• Mike Dodden, Honorary Treasurer

John Thornhill
Chairman

National experience

Joined Council first in November 1993; a member of the Training Committee from October 1996 until 2002;  retired from Council 2002; rejoined Council in 2004; elected to Executive Committee in 2004 and then to Board of Trustees in 2005;  appointed to Judicial Policy and Practice Committee in September 2004; elected Deputy Chairman November 2005 with specific responsibility for Magistrates in the Community project; member of all six standing committees; Association representative to: National Strategy Group for Drugs Courts Pilot; joint MA/Probation Board programme - Local Crime Community Justice. 

Magisterial experience

Appointed to Liverpool City Bench 1983; court chairman for adult, youth and family courts; Magistrates’ Courts Committee 1993 – 1997; Training Sub Committee;  held offices of training organiser, treasurer, secretary and chairman of the Merseyside branch of the Association; Inaugural Chairman – Merseyside Joint Training Board Regional 1989 – 1994.

Other experience

Chairman Board of Directors Garston (Liverpool) Youth Training Scheme; member of Board of Visitors HMP Altcourse 1997-2003; Chairman of Governors, Sudley Junior School, Liverpool.

Background

Qualified as a teacher in Scotland; took up Director of Studies post on return to England; transferred to the advisory and inspection service; Ofsted inspector; called to bar in 2002 - member of Middle Temple; practising in civil matters; referee at professional level in both football and rugby league; international athletics official; Rotarian; held national training offices in both athletics and Rotary; secretary of a regional Scottish cultural organisation; has degrees in Classics and Law; a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

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John Howson
Deputy Chairman

National experience

Member of Council November 2001; member of the Licensing Committee  2002-2004; Deputy Chairman 2004 – 2005; Member of the Judicial Policy and Practice Committee since 2004 and its Vice Chairman since 2007. MA representative on Judicial Finance Liaison Group; alternate on Judicial Estates Committee; MA representative on Licensing Bill committee 2002-03; Licensing Advisory Group member 2003-2007; member Gambling Act advisory Group 2003-2007; member World Cup and international cricket ad hoc working party.

Magisterial experience

Appointed magistrate in 1990; Licensing Committee member 1996-2003; chairman 2000-2003. Chaired courts since 1996. Member Quorum Club Executive Committee since 2001.

Other experience

Governor of various primary and secondary schools in the 1980s and 1990s. Member CMJA and has attended two international conferences in Malawi and Canada. Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts.

Background

Director of a research and information company specializing in education. Has been a teacher, lecturer and for one year, a government adviser. Provided evidence to a number of parliamentary Select Committee inquiries. Columnist since 1998 for The Times Educational Supplement.

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John Fassenfelt
Deputy Chairman

National experience

Member of Council since 1995; Kent Branch Chairman 2001-2003; member of the Communications Committee 1999-2001; Chairman Communications Committee 2001; member of the Youth Courts Committee 2002- 2007; Deputy Chairman of the Youth Courts Committee 2002-2004; Chairman Youth Courts Committee 2005-2007; member of the Magistrates’ Association Board of Trustees 2008.

Magisterial experience

Appointed to the Faversham and Sittingbourne Bench in 1992; Chairman in Adult and Youth Courts; Youth Court Panel Chairman 2001-2004; Deputy Chairman of the Bench 2002-2004; Committee work - Kent MCC, Bench Training and Development Committee.

Background

Qualified as a chartered statistician then become a member of the Institute of Personnel and Development; spent his career in local government prior to retiring.

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Mike Dodden
Honorary Treasurer

National  experience

Appointed Treasurer of the Association and Trustee in May 2007.  Member of the Focus Group for the Sentencing Guidelines Council in 2005.  Founder Regional Representative for the South West on the National Bench Chairman’s Forum when established in 2004. 

Magisterial experience

Appointed to Sedgemoor Bench in 1989, he served on the youth panel, probation forum, and was vice chair of the Somerset Magistrates’ Courts Committee before joining the Avon & Somerset MCC on amalgamation. He remained on this committee, serving as vice chair of the Finance Sub Committee until being appointed Bench Chair in 2002. In 2004 he chaired the Avon & Somerset Bench Chair and Justices’ Clerks’ Forum. Mike has a special interest in the Domestic Violence Courts, Sedgemoor having run one since 2005. He has served on the Domestic Abuse Court Steering and Operations Groups.  He is a member of his Bench BTDC.

Other experience

Mike qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1977, established an accountancy practice in Bridgwater in 1979 and now has two partners and nine staff. He and his wife have recently retired from a general insurance brokerage and independent financial advisor business which they set up in 1994. He is a past president of the Bridgwater Club Lions Clubs International, and served as zone Chairman for that organisation in 1984. He has been Governor of Enmore Church of England Primary School for over twelve years, serving as Chair for the past six years.

Background

Mike was educated at Dr. Morgan’s Grammar School in Bridgwater and is active in organising an Annual reunion Dinner. He married Kim in 1979, they have two children and in his spare time Mike is Chairman of the local operatic society, and is an avid supporter of Somerset and England Cricket. He has a keen interest in the musical theatre and enjoys foreign travel.

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