13. Judiciary in great britain - criminal proceedings

1. There are two courts of trial and two courts of appeal for criminal proceedings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The courts of trial are the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court, and the courts of appeal are the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords.

2. The most common type of law court in England and Wales is the Magistrates’ Court. The Magistrates’ Court is the lower court of trial. It deals with summary offences. More serious criminal cases (indictable offences) then go to the Crown Court. Civil cases are dealt with in County courts.

3. Magistrates’ Courts have limited powers of penalty but they may commit a convicted offender to the Crown Court if it is considered that the powers of the Magistrates’ Court are insufficient. Approximately 95% of all prosecutions are dealt with in the Magistrates’ Courts.

4. Juvenile Courts are composed of specially trained magistrates. They try most charges against children and young persons under the age of 18 years.

5. The Crown Court is the senior court of trial for criminal offences. The courts are established at various centres throughout the country. The courts are presided over by either a High Court Judge, Circuit Judge or Recorder who sits with a jury. The Crown Court for the City of London is the Central Criminal Court, also known as the Old Bailey.

6. The Crown Court may also hear appeals against conviction and/or sentence for some offences dealt with at the Magistrates’ Court.

7. The Court of Appeal hears appeals from criminal cases heard in the Crown Courts.

Choose one paragraph from the following reading that best suits each statement.

14. The court system of england and wales

1. The most common type of law court in England and Wales is the magistrates’ court. There are 700 magistrates’ courts and about 30,000 magistrates.

2. More serious criminal cases then go to the Crown Court which has 90 branches in different towns and cities. Civil cases (for example, divorce or bankruptcy cases) are dealt with in County courts.

3. Appeals are heard by higher courts. For example, appeals from magistrates’ courts are heard in the Crown Court, unless they are appeals on points of law.

4. Scotland has its own High Court in Edinburgh which hears all appeals from Scottish courts. Certain cases may be referred to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

5. In addition individuals have made the British Government change its practices in a number of areas as a result of petitions to the European Court of Human Rights.

6. The legal system also includes juvenile courts which deal with offenders under seventeen and coroners’ courts which investigate violent, sudden or unnatural deaths.

7. There are administrative tribunals which make quick, cheap and fair decisions with much less formality. Tribunals deal with professional standards, disputes between individuals and disputes between individuals and government departments (for example, over taxation).

Choose one paragraph from the following reading that best suits each statement.