Subordinate (lower) courts

The most common subordinate courts in England and Wales are the Magistrates' Courts, Youth courts and County Courts.

Magistrates' courts are a key part of the criminal justice system since over 95 per cent of criminal cases are completed there. Trials in the magistrates' courts are usually conducted by a panel of three lay magistrates (Justices of the Peace), or a legally-trained district judge (formerly known as a stipendiary magistrate). There are no juries. These courts hear minor criminal cases, as well as some civil cases e.g. family matters and licensing applications.

A courtroom at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court

Magistrates are appointed by the Crown and must retire at the age of 70. They come from all walks of life and do not usually have any legal qualifications. Qualified court clerks advise them on the law. Although magistrates are unpaid, they receive some money compensation for travel expenses and for loss of earnings. There are around 30,000 magistrates in England and Wales. In addition, there are also about 130 District Judges who must have at least seven years experience as a barrister or solicitor. They sit alone and deal with more complex cases. Magistrates cannot normally order sentences of imprisonment that exceed 6 months, or fines exceeding £5000.

Youth courts deal with offenders between the ages of 10 and 17. Youth courts are presided over by a specially trained experienced magistrate or a district judge. Youth magistrates often hear more serious cases against youths (which for adults would normally go to the Crown Court). Youth courts are not open to the public, only the parties involved in a case are admitted.

County Courts, often referred to as the Small Claims Courts, deal with civil matters such as claims for debt repayment, personal injury, breach of contract, family issues such as divorce or adoption and housing disputes. These courts are presided over by either a district or circuit judge. Claims for small amounts are generally simple and there is usually no need for the parties to use solicitors. The hearing is usually before a single judge, in private and informal. There are 216 county courts.

Read the text again using the Legal Vocabulary. Are these statements true (T) or false (F)? Correct the false statements.

1 Before the creation of the Supreme Court the highest judges in the United Kingdom were a few members of the House of Lords.

2 The Supreme Court of the UK does not have authority over criminal cases tried in Scottish courts.

3 The Court of Appeals hears both criminal and civil appeals.

4 The Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal is headed by the Master of the Rolls.

5 Over a hundred judges sit in the High Court.

6 Juries are never used in the Queen’s Bench Division.

7 The Chancery Division deals with serious criminal offences.

8 The Crown Court is both a trial court and an appellate court.

9 Justices of the Peace do not hear cases alone.

10 In a magistrates’ court the defendant may be sentenced to up to three years in prison.

11 The mass media cannot attend hearings in a youth court as members of the public.

12 Most County Court cases are between people or companies who believe that someone owes them money.

Find in the text the following numbers.

a the number of Lords/Ladies Justices in the Court of Appeal panel

b the number of jurors at a High Court trial

c the maximum fine that a magistrate may order

d the number of county courts in England and Wales

e the minimum age for a person to stand before an Adult Magistrate

f the number of district judges

g the retirement age for magistrates

h the number of Supreme Court Justices

i the proportion of criminal cases tried in the Magistrates Courts

j the number of judges who hear a case in the Family Division

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Дата добавления: 2015-10-30