criminal law 2a (1st term) Flashcards
lesson one
define court hierarchy
- the court hierarchy is a ranking of the courts based upon the severity & complexity of the cases in which they can adjudicate.
- each court has its own jurisdiction which can be considered an original jurisdiction or appellate
lesson one
define jurisdiction
- the legal authority of a court to decide legal cases
lesson one
define original jurisdiction
- the power of a court to hear a case for the 1st time
lesson one
define appellate jurisdiction
- the power of a court to hear a case on appeal
lesson one
what are the 2 reasons for court hierarchy?
- specialisation
- appeals
lesson one
define specialisation
- the lvl of expertise gained by the j / m which is dev. from hearing the same matters repeatedly. this allows j / m to resolve disputes in a more consistent, efficient & fair manner
lesson one
how does specialisation lead to increased efficiency?
- b/c judges are likely to have to refer to past precedents through research, helping to est a great knoweldge of law and sim case matters
lesson one
what is an example answer of linking the reason of specialisation to the existence of a hierarchy?
- a hierarchy allows for spec. b/c the ranking of courts ensures that there are clear jurisdictional boundaries for where crim. matters can be heard which reinforces judges’ ability to dev. their expertise.
- if there was X hierarchy, judges would be exposed to all varieties of cases, lim their opp to dev expertise
lesson one
what is the structure for answering reasons for court hierarchy questions?
- explain the reason e.g. spec.
- use an example of a court to reinforce your response
- link back to how a court hierarchy promotes this
lesson one
what is an example of specialisation?
- w/n CC:
- hears IO - gen X involving a homocide
- j have dev spec in those matters incl elements of each crime that needs to be proven
- j dev exp in jury matters
- j can hear appeals from MG on leniency & severity of sentencing –> consistency
lesson one
define appeals
- the application / process to have a higher court review a ruling / decision / judgement at trial
- X re-trial w/ jury
lesson one
why are appeals needed?
- appeals allow for a party (appellant) who is dissatisfied w/ a judgment at trial to take a matter to a higher court for review. the system allows for fairness so that any mistakes made at trial can be corrected
lesson one
what are the grounds for appeals?
- question of law
- appealing a conviction
- appealing a sentence
lesson one
what does question of law mean?
- the appellant can argue that th law has X been followed
- e.g. allowing inadmissible evidence or the incorrect application of a statue
lesson one
what does appealing a conviction mean?
- the offender can argue that the burden / standard from the pros. has X been met
lesson one
what does appealing a sentence mean?
- the pros. can appeal a sent. on grounds of leniency & the off can appeal a sent arguing it is too severe / excessive
lesson two
who are considered the key personnel w/n the courtroom?
- the judge (mag)
- the jury
- the parties
lesson two
what is the purpose of the judge?
- the purpose of a judge in trial is to act as a referee/ they oversee the case to ensure that court procedures are carried out in accordance w/ the rules to ensure that parties are treated fairly
- judges must = imp, X favour any sie & have X connection to the pros or acc
lesson two
what does it mean for a judge to be impartial?
- must be unbiased
- X favour one side or be vested in the outcome of the case
- should X have apprehended bias = create a situation where a reasonable person may believe that the judge hearing the case may X bring an impartial mind
lesson two
how do judges act impartial?
- managing the trial
- decide on the outcome of the case
- sentencing the offender
lesson two
how do judges manage the trial?
- ensuring that court procedures are followed; both parties have the same opp to present their case
- asking clarifying questions of wit, calling new wit
- adjourning - taking breaks in the rial to ensure that there is X disparity e.g. if a witness was hsowing signs of distress & cont. to testify may lead to inacc information
- det admissibility of evidence = evid must be relevant to issue / hearsay evid X admissible
lesson two
how do judges decide on the outcome of the case?
- giving direct. to jury to ensure a fair trial - informing the jury that acc is X req to give evid –> reinforcing that jury needs to apply the elements of the law
- expl. leg def to the jury
lesson two
how does the judge complete the sentencing of the offender?
- if acc found g. by jury / pleads g –> parties will make submis. for sentencing
- judge must follow the Sentencing Act 1991 (vic) & comply w/ leg.
- judge must factor in agg / miti / VIS should there be one to ensure procedural fairness in sentencing
lesson two
what is the purpose of the jury?
- the purpose of the jury in an indict trial is to det. the g of the acc through being a ‘decider of the facts’
- must be imp & base their decision on the evidence presented whilst applying the law in an indep manner
lesson two
what are the roles of the jury?
- be objective
- listen & remember evidence
- understand directions & summing up
- deliver a verdict
lesson two
what does it mean for the jury to be objective?
- unbiased & put aside any prej.
- have X connection w/ any of the parties (acc / wit / pros. / judge)
- dec. the g of the acc based upon evid. & facts rather than personal bias
lesson two
what does it mean for the jury to listen & remember evidence?
- jury mem = take notes to rem. infor. presented at trial
- conc. on infor. presente to them during trial
- mem = X conduct res / own invest. or make any additional enquires –> discharged or fin. penalties
lesson two
what does it mean for juries to understand directions & summing up?
- listen to judge for direct. & explan. on point of law
- req. an explan of leg ele / term that = unclear
e.g. in sexual offence cases being aware of the def of consent
lesson two
what does it mean for the jury to deliver a verdict?
- part w/ other jurors during delib & form an opinion about which party they believe
- make dec on the facts of the case
- reach a unani verdict for murder, treason or drug off
- maj verdict = accep for other indict off
lesson two
who is the prosecution?
- the legal personnels brining the crim matter to court (incl barr & sol)
lesson two
who is the accused?
- person who has been charged w/ a crim matter
lesson two
who are the two parties in a criminal case?
- pros.
- acc.
lesson two
what is the purpose of the parties?
- the purpose of the parties in a criminal case is to exercise ‘party control’
lesson two
define party control
- dec what & how they will present their case to the jury / judge to prove their case
lesson two
what is the party control for the pros?
- presenting their case in a way that meets the burdern & standard of proof
lesson two
what is the party control for the accused?
- remaining silent, cross-exam of wit, dec what evid to present to case doubt in the pros case &/or def their innocence
lesson two
what is the role of the prosecution?
- to rep the state (vic) & bring the acc. to court to answe for their crime & seek justice for the victim/s
- to do so they are resp for org & pres their case to the judge / jury w/ specific roles
lesson two
what are the specific role to which the prosecution must present their case?
- discolse info to the acc.
- part in the trial
- sub reg sent
lesson two
what does it mean for the prosecution to disclose info to the acc
- informing the acc of the evid that will be presented in court
- names & statments of wit
- prior conict of wit for cross-exam
lesson two
what does it mean for the prosecution to participate in the trial?
- presenting an opening address to the court which outlines the charges, issues & evid that will be presented / closinf address
- pres. evid that supports their case incl examination in chief
- cross-exam - questioning wit called by acc
lesson two
what does examination in chief mean?
- questioning their own wit. = Lay wit (who saw it happen) & exp wit (prov info based on their prof spec)
lesson two
what does it mean for the prosecution to make submissions regarding sentencing?
- inform the court about any relevant matters about the offence or the offender relevant to sentencing
lesson two
what is the role of the accused?
- to present theie ‘side’ of the case w/ support from their leg rep.
- pres evid that contradicts or casts doubt over the pros. case
lesson two
how doe the accused cast doubt on the prosecutions case?
- participate in the trial
- make submissions regarding sentencing
lesson two
what does it mean for the accused to participate in the trial?
- remain silent & do nothing if they wish
- present a def
lesson two
how does the accused present a defence?
- pres an opening address - summ all the evid that they will outline during trial
- pres evid to supp their case -calling wit
- pres evid to supp their statements
- cross exam wit called by the pros
lesson two
what does it mean for the accused to make submissions regarding sentencing?
- once found g, offender entit to make sub about sent
- they make pres relevant inform to judge which is aimed at receiving a lighter sentence
lesson three (19)
who are legal pracitioners?
- indiv = leg trained to pres. their cases, other than judges.
- lawyers that hold a prac. certificate & can either on behalf of their client (acc) ot, to rep the state
lesson three (19)
what are the types of legal practitioners?
- barristers
- solicitors
lesson three (19)
who are barristers?
- lawyers that are spec. trained to pres the case at trial
- stand up & address the j & j
- present evid
- outline facts of the case
- exam wit
lesson three (19)
who are solicitors?
- lawyers that are involv in prep the case
- –> locate documents, liase w/ police, obtain copies of evid, prep wit for trial, prov. barr w. instruct for trial
- lawyer = indivi see for advice = ‘desk based’ rather than courtroom
lesson three (19)
overall why are legal practitioners needed?
- needed for the acc to uphold the princ of just: f / e / a w/n the crim just system
lesson three (19)
what are legal practitioners specifically needed for?
- draft docs & letters to clients
- res the law & pres evid
- opening & closing addresses
- making evid sub
lesson three (19)
what does it mean for legal practitionerst to be needed for drafting documentations & letters for clients?
- freq comm w/ clients –> gather nec info
- prov leg advice
- ensure all rel doc = org
- sol = maintain client files by ensuring imp details & records = sec man & readily acc for dur of leg proceedings