Magistrates Court

10 Facts about the Magistrates Courts:


  1. They will be the first court ANY criminal case will be heard in - whether it is a murder or assault.
  2. They are run by 3 Lay Magistrates or 1 District Judge
  3. The Magistrates are volunteers and have no legal knowledge so there is a Legal Adviser in the court room to help them out
  4. If tried in a Magistrates Court the maximum prison sentence you will be given is 6 months (or 12 for multiple crimes) unless the Magistrates think that a harsher sentence is needed then they will send you to the Crown Court
  5. Over 98% of criminal cases are heard in the Magistrates Court
  6. There are over 400 courts all around the country 
  7. Anybody that has been tried at a Magistrates Court is allowed to appeal their verdict up to the Crown Court
  8. Magistrates also offer arrest and search warrants and help educate students 
  9. All summary and some triable either way cases are heard here
  10. Of all the 3 Magistrates, only the middle person (the Chairperson) is allowed to talk.




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