Criminal Justice System & Sentencing: Lesson 26 Flashcards
1
Q
What is the Judicial Appointment Commission?
A
- Select candidates on merit, good character & promote diversity
- Responsible for running selection exercises
- Make recommendations for posts up to high court
2
Q
What is the make up of the commissioners?
A
14 commissioners
- 6 must be judicial ( including 2 tribunal judges)
- 2 must be professional members which must not have the same qualifications
- 5 must be lay members
- 1 must be non-legally qualified
3
Q
Key points on Supreme Court judges
A
- Justices of the senior court
- Hold higher judicial office barrister or solicitor
- Hear appeals on criminal & civil law
- Superior judge
- Lord Chancellor has to accept nomination
4
Q
Key points on Court of Appeal judges
A
- Lord justice of appeal
- Barrister/ solicitor 7yr experience or circuit judge 2yrs
- Hears appeals on criminal against convictions
- superior
- Lord Chancellor asks JSC to convene selection panel
5
Q
Key points on High Court Judges
A
- Barrister/ solicitor 7yrs experience or circuit judge 2yrs
- In QBD, deals with case stated appeals questions e.g point of law
- Superior
6
Q
Key points on Crown Court judges
A
- High Court Judges, Circuit Judges & Recorders
- 7yrs legal experience, or be Recorder or District Judge 3yrs, Barrister/solicitor 5yrs
- Try cases by jury, direct on applicable law & pass sentence on guilty defendant
- HCJ superior & CJ and Recorder inferior
- JAC recommendation with Lord Chancellor approval
7
Q
What is the 1st tier court?
A
- Exist in main centres throughout country
- At each centre there’s Crown & High court with different judges for civil & criminal
- Circuit judges & Recorders can deal with all categories of crime triable on indictment
8
Q
What is the 2nd tier court?
A
- Crown Court centres that don’t have high court judges
- cases handled by Circuit judges & Recorders
- Deal with less serious indictable offences
9
Q
What is the 3rd tier courts?
A
- Smallest Crown court centre
- Staffed only by Recorders
- least serious cases
10
Q
Key points on inferior judges
A
- Don’t have same security of tenure
- Lord chancellor can call for dismissal after getting consent from Lord Chief Justice
- Powers of suspension if inferior judge is subject to criminal proceedings
11
Q
Key points on Superior judges
A
- Security of tenure
- Can’t be dismissed by Lord Chancellor
12
Q
What is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office?
A
- Independent statutory body which supports Lord Cauncellor and Lord Chief Justice
- Deal with complaints of misconduct
- Not responsible for case managment
