Criminal Court Structure

Question 1

Where do all criminal cases in England and Wales start?
A) The Crown Court
B) The Supreme Court
C) The Magistrates’ Court
D) The Court of Appeal

Answer 1

C) The Magistrates’ Court

Question 2

Where do all defendants aged 18 or over have their first hearing?
A) Youth Court
B) Magistrates’ Court
C) Crown Court
D) Court of Appeal

Answer 2

B) Magistrates’ Court

Question 3

A 16-year-old defendant will have their first hearing in the Youth Court unless:
A) They are charged with a summary-only offence
B) They are jointly charged with an adult
C) They request to be tried in the Crown Court
D) The Court of Appeal orders otherwise

Answer 3

B) They are jointly charged with an adult

Question 4

What type of cases does the Magistrates’ Court always hear?
A) Indictable-only offences
B) Summary-only offences
C) Appeals from the Crown Court
D) Judicial review cases

Answer 4

B) Summary-only offences

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT true about the Magistrates’ Court?
A) It hears summary trials
B) It has criminal appellate jurisdiction
C) It can sentence up to 12 months for either-way offences
D) It consists of District Judges or lay magistrates

Answer 5

B) It has criminal appellate jurisdiction

Question 6

What is the maximum imprisonment sentence that the Magistrates’ Court can impose for a single offence?
A) 3 months
B) 6 months
C) 12 months
D) 2 years

Answer 6

B) 6 months

Question 7

Which of the following offences must always be tried in the Crown Court?
A) Summary-only offences
B) Indictable-only offences
C) All either-way offences
D) Regulatory offences

Answer 7

B) Indictable-only offences

Question 8

In a Crown Court trial, who is the tribunal of fact?
A) The judge
B) The jury
C) The magistrates
D) The Court of Appeal

Answer 8

B) The jury

Question 9

What is the primary function of the Crown Court?
A) To review decisions from the Supreme Court
B) To hear trials of indictable offences and some appeals
C) To hear summary-only offences
D) To act as a judicial review body

Answer 9

B) To hear trials of indictable offences and some appeals

Question 10

What type of cases does the High Court (Queen’s Bench Division) handle in criminal matters?
A) Appeals from the Crown Court in its trial capacity
B) Appeals by way of case stated and judicial review
C) First hearings for indictable offences
D) Sentencing for either-way offences

Answer 10

B) Appeals by way of case stated and judicial review

Question 11

The High Court does NOT have jurisdiction to:
A) Conduct judicial reviews
B) Hear appeals on points of law from the Magistrates’ Court
C) Review matters relating to a trial on indictment
D) Hear judicial review cases from the Crown Court

Answer 11

C) Review matters relating to a trial on indictment

Question 12

The Court of Appeal hears appeals from which court?
A) Magistrates’ Court
B) Crown Court
C) High Court
D) Supreme Court

Answer 12

B) Crown Court

Question 13

What must a defendant obtain before the Court of Appeal hears their case?
A) Automatic referral from the Crown Court
B) Leave (permission) to appeal
C) A signed statement from the prosecution
D) A jury decision

Answer 13

B) Leave (permission) to appeal

Question 14

When can the Court of Appeal quash a conviction?
A) If it determines that the conviction is unsafe
B) If the defendant was found guilty in the Magistrates’ Court
C) If a jury found the defendant guilty
D) Only if the Attorney General requests it

Answer 14

A) If it determines that the conviction is unsafe

Question 15

15. What is the primary function of the Supreme Court in criminal cases?
    A) Hearing all criminal appeals from the Crown Court
    B) Reviewing points of law of general public importance
    C) Rehearing trials with new juries
    D) Reviewing sentencing decisions from the Magistrates’ Court

Answer 15

B) Reviewing points of law of general public importance

Question 16

How does a case reach the Supreme Court?
A) Through automatic appeal from the High Court
B) By permission (leave) from the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court
C) By request of the defendant
D) By jury decision

Answer 16

B) By permission (leave) from the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court

Question 17

A defendant is charged with an either-way offence. The Magistrates’ Court accepts jurisdiction, but the defendant elects trial by jury. Where will the trial take place?

A) Magistrates’ Court
B) High Court
C) Crown Court
D) Court of Appeal

Answer 17

C) Crown Court

Question 18

A defendant is convicted in the Crown Court and believes their sentence is too harsh. Where should they appeal?

A) Magistrates’ Court
B) High Court
C) Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
D) Supreme Court

Answer 18

C) Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Question 19

A defendant’s conviction is quashed by the Court of Appeal, but the prosecution believes the ruling raises an important question of law. What can the prosecution do?

A) Request the Supreme Court to hear the case on a point of law
B) Automatically retry the defendant
C) Overrule the Court of Appeal’s decision
D) File for a judicial review in the Magistrates’ Court

Answer 19

A) Request the Supreme Court to hear the case on a point of law

Question 20

A case involving a serious fraud trial is heard in the Crown Court. The trial judge makes a ruling at a preparatory hearing that the prosecution disagrees with. Where can the prosecution appeal this decision?

A) High Court
B) Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
C) Supreme Court
D) Crown Court

Answer 20

B) Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Question 21

A 25-year-old defendant is charged with common assault, a summary-only offence. Where will their first hearing take place?

A) Crown Court
B) Magistrates’ Court
C) High Court
D) Court of Appeal

Answer 21

B) Magistrates’ Court

Question 22

Appeal Against Sentence
22. A defendant is convicted of theft in the Magistrates’ Court and sentenced to six months in prison. They believe the sentence is too severe. Where should they appeal?

A) Crown Court
B) Supreme Court
C) High Court (Queen’s Bench Division)
D) Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Answer 22

A) Crown Court

Question 23

A defendant is charged with murder, an indictable-only offence. Where will their plea be entered?

A) Magistrates’ Court
B) Crown Court
C) High Court
D) Youth Court

Answer 23

B) Crown Court

Question 24

A defendant is convicted after trial in the Crown Court. They believe they were wrongly convicted due to a legal error. Where should they appeal?

A) Magistrates’ Court
B) Crown Court
C) Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
D) Supreme Court

Answer 24

C) Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

Question 25

The Court of Appeal quashes a defendant’s conviction, but the prosecution argues that the ruling involves an important legal principle. What is the next step?

A) The prosecution can apply for the case to be heard in the Supreme Court
B) The defendant must be retried automatically
C) The High Court will review the decision
D) The Crown Court will re-hear the case

Answer 25

A) The prosecution can apply for the case to be heard in the Supreme Court