Exam Flashcards
(53 cards)
fairness
all people can participate in the justice system and its processes are impartial and non-bias
- Synonyms: participate, processes, impartial, open (scrutiny and transparency
equality
- all people are treated the same or if different adequate measures are taken
- Synonyms: substantive- different treatment, formal- same treatment
Access
- everyone can use the legal system on an informed basis
- Synonyms: despite barriers
effective laws
C - clear and understandable -
A - accessible
K - known
E - enforceable - in theory and practise
R - reflect society values
S - stable
court hierarchy
- High court
- Supreme Court appeals
- Supreme Court trials
- Country court
- Magistrates court
reasons for hierarchy
administrative convenience, specialisation, appeals
types of laws
common (made by courts) statue (made by parliament)
making of statute law
- 1st reading- introduced to lower house
- 2nd reading more in-depth given two week break, debate
- 3rd reading final vote
- Repeated in upper house
- Royal assent- kinds approval by governor
court and parliament
- Parliament is the supreme law maker- they can set laws or change laws made in court
- Courts imply and interpret statute law- court makes descision about the meaning of laws setting precedent
- Abrogation- if parliament does not agree with a precedent they can change and override it. This happens in the case that courts have interpreted statute wrong or that don’t reflect values
- Codification- parliament can conform a precedent set in court by passing an act to reinforce its key principles
- Courts design influences change- lenient sentecncing by court may require a law change to be more strict
purpose of a law
- Establish a code of conduct
- Resolve disputes
- To protect against behaviour that loss harmful, immoral, illegal
elements of crime
Actus reus- the guilty act
Mens red - the guilty mind
Both need to happen simultaneously to prove a crime
doli incappax
a chid is incapable of knowing wrong
types of crime
- Summary offences- minor crimes heard in the magistrates court
- Indictable offences - major crimes heard in county or Supreme Court
crimes against
- A person- causing bodily or psychological harm
- Property - causing damage or destruction of land
strict liability
- Only prove acts reus
- Crimes in high volume- to regulate
- Purpose is deterrence
- Reduce processing time in court
principal vs accessory
Principal: person who
- Committed acts reus
- Assisted in crime
- Directs crime
- Encourages crime
Accessory: person who
- Obstructs investigation
elements of murder
- Committed act causing death
- Voluntary
- A:intended to kill or seriously harm B: knew death or serious injury was probably
- No lawful defence
elements of manslaughter
- Unlawful act
- Dangerous act
- Caused death
theft
- Appropriated property belonging to another
- Intention to permanently deprive
- Dishonesty
robbery
theft + force
burglary
theft + tresspassing
defences
self defence
actions were necessary to protect themselves, the actions were reasonable
mental imparirment
as a result of mental illness one had little understanding of quality and nature of actions, they did not know their conduct was wrong or could not think about it like an ordinary person