Court Reporting

Question 1

What are the four main courts?

Answer 1

District, High Court, Court of Appeal, the

supreme court

Question 2

What does AVL stand for

Answer 2

Audio Visual Link

Question 3

What are the 6 main things on a court sheet?

Answer 3

1. Name
2. DOB
3. Occupation
4. Where therefrom
5. Charges
6. Suppression?

Question 4

What are the 2 Kinds of hearing?

Answer 4

Criminal vs Civil.

Question 5

Where is Suppression noted?

Answer 5

on list sheet or in court (judge could grant if defence lawyer requests)

Question 6

what 5 cases get automatic name Suppression? (Statutory)

Answer 6

1. Murders (psychiatric report) - interim, until report gets back
2. Victims of sex cases
3. All victims, witnesses under 18
4. Youth courts
5. defendant and complainant of incest.

Question 7

Jurors can never be

Answer 7

photographed, approached or identified.

Question 8

The one court you need permission to report in?

Answer 8

Youth court - all have suppression.

Question 9

Water

Answer 9

Wai

Question 10

How could you prejudice a trial?

Answer 10

photographing them, reporting previous convictions, suggesting an opinion that they are guilty.

Question 11

What are you charged with if you prejudice a trial

Answer 11

contempt of court

Question 12

A case is not longer Sub Judice when?

Answer 12

The jury has returned its verdict or the accused pleas guilty.

Question 13

When it is a jury trial can you report when they are out of the room?

Answer 13

no.

Question 14

What are the two types of suppression?

Answer 14

Statutory Suppression and Discretionary suppression.

Question 15

what is Discretionary suppression?

Answer 15

Lawyers can request, can be temporary, will usually at first appearance then could be continued or lapsed.

Question 16

What is interim name suppression?

Answer 16

Temporary, has to be renewed at every appearance

Question 17

Can you change the words of charges for the audience so they are shorter?

Answer 17

Yes

Question 18

What does in Chambers mean?

Answer 18

Can only report basic facts, a court can be cleared, press/public not always allowed

Question 19

7 orders of the court

Answer 19

1. arrested
2. charged
3. appearance
4. plea
5. trial
6. verdict
7. sentencing

Question 20

How many categories of offending is there?

Answer 20

four

Question 21

What is category 1 offence

Answer 21

minor offences - e,g driving - heard in district court by just a judge (fine)

Question 22

What is category 2 offence

Answer 22

common assault (community service or a max of 2 years imprisonment) heard in a district court with a judge alone

Question 23

What is category 3 offence

Answer 23

more serious, e,g assault, kidnapping or threatening to kill. heard in a district court by a judge or if the defendant. chooses, jury. also could be transferred to the high court.

(2 or more years imprisonment)

Question 24

What is category 4 offence

Answer 24

A most serious offence, e,g murder, manslaughter. Heard by a judge or Jury in the high court

(2 years - life imprisonment)

Question 25

Difference between Defendant and offender

Answer 25

Offender is when they are found guilty but when just charged with the case he is called the defendant

Question 26

Why is the defence counsel closing statement not taken as evidence?

Answer 26

the closing statement is to persuade the jury in Favour of the defendant. Don’t at all carry fairness and a summary of the case which is key when writing a court story as it needs to be accurate, balanced and fair.

Question 27

What happens if the defendant enters no plea

Answer 27

the court will decide if he is remanded in custody or bail and set a later date (to give him time to get legal advice on what he wants to plea

Question 28

What happens if the defendant enters a guilty plea

Answer 28

The court will then have to decide on the sentencing, depending on office they may set another day to prepare.

Question 29

What happens if the defendant enters a non-guilty plea

Answer 29

the defendant will go to trial and the prosecutor must prove that the defendant committed the crime. if category 3 can choose jury (when entering no plea) or if 4 then has a jury. They then give the verdict if they are guilty or not then sentenced

Question 30

What Needs to be in every court story?

Answer 30

strong angle first par, context, names, ages (location/occupation - relevant?) charges all correct - a plea, status and remand dates, ns? , present, no repetition, correct style & grammar, balanced and try change it up in the last par

Question 31

What does Alleged mean?

Answer 31

Said, without proof, something illegal

Question 32

What does convicted mean?

Answer 32

having been declared guilty

Question 33

When someone is charged with something what does it mean?

Answer 33

A charge is a formal accusation that someone has committed a crime.

Question 34

what 4 things can you report on in a bail hearing?

Answer 34

the identity of the defendant applying for bail, the charges faced by that defendant, the decision of the court (if bail is granted) and the conditions of bail.