Basics of court structure

Question 1

What are some of the main differences between civil and criminal courts

Answer 1

• Criminal - mainly involves the state taking action against individuals, deals with offences
• Civil - individuals/orgs against one another, wide range of areas inc. family, commercial, contract, private law disputes
• they also have different aims and functions - civil more focused on compensation, criminal more focused on public policy, protection, punishment and detterence

Question 2

Difference between trial and appellate courts

Answer 2

• trial courts - hear cases for the first time
• Appelatte courts - hear appeals from lower courts
• some courts are trial only, some courts are appeal only, some are both
• Generally, English law has a adversarial system

Question 3

Flowchart of structure of the courts

Answer 3

Look at diagram and print out to put in front

Question 4

Structure of Criminal courts

Answer 4

• All cases start in Magistrate court - summary remains in mags, indictable go to crown,
• Crown court - most serious trials and appeals from magistrate
• HC - 3 divisions - both appeal court and first instance
• CA criminal division - Criminal appeals only
• SC - Appeals only

Question 5

Structure of civil courts

Answer 5

• Depending on seriousness, cases can start in the CC, family, or HC
• HC - 3 divisons - can also hear appeals from CC - both appeal and first instance
• CA civil division - civil appeals only
• SC - appeals only
• also have tribunals for certain cases e.g. employment