It's being heard at Westminster Magistrate's Court because that is where all extradition cases from England and Wales are heard.
Criminal matters in the Magistrate's Court are heard before Justices of the Peace, and you are correct that most JPs are lay-people who have taken some basic legal training, and are assisted by a clerk who is legally trained at a professional level.
However, there are also District Judges that sit in the Magistrate's Court and are by virtue of their appointment also Justices of the Peace. These are judges employed by the Government to deal with specific types of more serious cases, e.g. terrorism, or specific subject matter like extradition.
I looked this up previously, but it's hard to find useful references due to the preponderance of Assange-related stories, but if I recall correctly: Vanessa Baraitser is a District Judge, and has something like 15+ years of professional experience as a solicitor before appointment.
It's being heard at Westminster Magistrate's Court because that is where all extradition cases from England and Wales are heard.
Criminal matters in the Magistrate's Court are heard before Justices of the Peace, and you are correct that most JPs are lay-people who have taken some basic legal training, and are assisted by a clerk who is legally trained at a professional level.
However, there are also District Judges that sit in the Magistrate's Court and are by virtue of their appointment also Justices of the Peace. These are judges employed by the Government to deal with specific types of more serious cases, e.g. terrorism, or specific subject matter like extradition.
I looked this up previously, but it's hard to find useful references due to the preponderance of Assange-related stories, but if I recall correctly: Vanessa Baraitser is a District Judge, and has something like 15+ years of professional experience as a solicitor before appointment.