Court Structure Flashcards
What is the hierarchy of the CRIMINAL courts? [Highest to lowest]
Supreme Court
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
Crown Court
Magistrates Court
What is the hierarchy of the CIVIL courts? [Highest to lowest]
Supreme Court
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
High Court (Chancery, Queens Bench, and Family Division)
County Court
Describe some features of the Crown Court [Criminal]
- 70 in England & Wales
- Cases are tried by a judge and jury
- Jury has 12 randomly selected members of the public on it
- Judge decides any point of law, and the sentence
- Jury decide if the defendant is guilty or not guilty
- More serious offences (indictable)
Describe some features of the Magistrates Court [Criminal]
- 300 in England & Wales
- Tried by a district judge, or lay magistrates
- Less serious offences (summary)
Name some CRIMINAL appeal courts and where the appeal comes from
Crown Court
- appeals from Magistrates
High Court
- appeals from Magistrates on points of law
Court of Appeal (Criminal Div.)
- appeals from Crown Court
Supreme Court
- appeals from Court of Appeal
Describe some features of the County Court [CIVIL]
- 200 in England & Wales
- Cases decided by judges (very rarely juries)
- District judges deal with smaller claims
- Circuit judges deal with the larger claims
Describe some features of the High Court [CIVIL]
- Deals with claims more than £15,000
- Has 3 divisions:
- Chancery Div: Company, Land & Partnership Law
- Queens Bench Div: Contract law & Tort
- Family Div: Family cases
Name some CIVIL appeal courts and where the appeals are from
High Court
- appeals from County Court
Court of Appeal (Civil Div.)
- appeals from High Court
Supreme Court
- appeals from Court of Appeal
