Jurisdiction of Magistrates' Courts and Crown Courts
Magistrates' Court Jurisdiction
The Magistrates' Court plays a crucial role in the English legal system as the lowest court with the most limited sentencing powers.
Highlight: Magistrates' Courts handle approximately 97% of legal cases in England and Wales, amounting to 1.5 million cases annually.
Key aspects of Magistrates' Court jurisdiction include:
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Sentencing limitations:
- Maximum of 6 months per offense
- Maximum of 12 months for combined sentences
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Case types:
- Primarily deals with summary offenses and lower either-way offenses
- Conducts preliminary hearings for cases destined for Crown Court
- Handles all youth court cases (except murder)
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Additional functions:
- Issues arrest warrants
- Grants search warrants for properties
- Determines trial types and appropriate courts
Vocabulary: Either-way offenses are crimes that can be tried in either the Magistrates' Court or the Crown Court, depending on their severity and the defendant's choice.
Crown Court Jurisdiction
The Crown Court handles more serious criminal cases and has broader sentencing powers compared to the Magistrates' Court.
Key aspects of Crown Court jurisdiction include:
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Case types:
- Deals with indictable offenses and serious either-way offenses
- Heard approximately 80,000 cases in 2020
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Sentencing powers:
- Can impose sentences exceeding 6 months
- Has the authority to sentence cases referred from Magistrates' Courts if more severe punishment is required
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Court proceedings:
- Judge sits alone for pretrial matters and arraignment
- Uses a jury for trials where the defendant pleads not guilty
- Judge controls the court, rules on legal issues, and directs the jury on law and evidence
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Appeals:
- Hears appeals from Magistrates' Courts against sentence and conviction
- Appeals from Crown Court go to the Court of Appeal
Example: Grounds for appeal from Crown Court to Court of Appeal may include misdirection of law or facts, failure to refer to defense, inappropriate judge comments, or jury irregularity.
Definition: Arraignment is the formal reading of criminal charges in the presence of the defendant to obtain a plea.
The distinct jurisdictions of Magistrates' and Crown Courts ensure that cases are handled at the appropriate level of the legal system, balancing efficiency with the need for more extensive proceedings for serious offenses.
