Reponsibilities Of The Judge

Question 1

What are the judges key roles?

Answer 1

• Manage the trial
• Decide on admissibility of the evidence
• Attend to jurors
• Give directions to the jury and sum up the case
• Hand down a sentence

Question 2

Judges- 1: Management of trial?

Answer 2

• Enforce rules of procedures
• Make orders where need be
• Recall a witness to clarify a matter

Judges do not actively participate, they simply make sure that the legal principles are being applied.

Question 3

Judges-2: Decide on evidence?

Answer 3

The judge is responsible for deciding the admissibility of the evidence. This included deciding what evidence is admissible/ permitted, and what is not.
Irrelevant evidence includes:
-hearsay/not first person
-Non expert opinion

Question 4

Judges-3: Attend to jury matters

Answer 4

• Impanel the jury
• Give the justly directions in order to ensure a fair trial.
• Sum up the case for the jury. The judge must explain the law involved, and identify evidence that will help the jury.
• A judge may have to discharge a juror, if they are not objective or if they shouldn’t be a juror.

Question 5

Judges-4: Hand down a sentence

Answer 5

We’re an accused is found, or pleads guilty, the case goes on to plea hearings. The judge must hand down a sentence and follow the guidelines established in the sentencing act 1991.