courts and tribunal's systems

Question 1

What is the role of the Privy Council?

Answer 1

Is the final appeal court for UK overseas territories and Crown dependencies.
- purpose of the Judicial Committee is to advise the Crown
- decisions of the Privy Council are not binding on the English courts, but its opinions can be highly persuasive.
- made up on the same justices as the SC.

Question 2

what is the burden of proof in criminal cases?

Answer 2

‘beyond reasonable doubt’

Question 3

What is the burden of proof in civil cases?

Answer 3

‘on the balance of probabilities’
- ‘balance of probabilities’
- ‘more than 50%’

Question 4

what are Tribunals?

Answer 4

Tribunals are specialist judicial bodies dealing with administrative and regulatory cases.
- They do not have any jurisdiction in criminal matters.
- two Tribunal levels: the First Tier Tribunal, and the Upper Tribunal.

Question 5

What is the role of Coroner’s Courts?

Answer 5

investigate all deaths where the cause is unknown, or where there is reason to think it was not due to natural causes. Coroners’ investigations are called ‘inquests’.

Question 6

What are public inquiries?

Answer 6

investigations, convened by government departments, that are given special statutory powers to compel testimony and the release of other forms of
evidence.
- they have addressed topics as wide-ranging as transport accidents, fires, the mismanagement of pension funds, self-inflicted deaths in custody, outbreaks of disease, and decision-making that has led to war

Question 7

What are the senior courts?

Answer 7

• supreme court
• Court of Appeal
• High Court
• Crown Court

Question 8

What are the 3 divisions of the High Court?

Answer 8

1- King’s Bench Division
2- Chancery Division
3- Family Division

Question 9

What judges are in the High Court?

Answer 9

The Masters comprise the Senior Master and 9 King’s Bench Division masters; the Chief Master and 5 Chancery masters.

Question 10

What is the role of the Chancery Division?

Answer 10

incorporates the Insolvency and Companies Court, the Patents Court and the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC).

Question 11

true or false-
Solicitors are not generally authorised to advocate in Higher courts (Supreme court, Court of Appeal and High Court)

Answer 11

true, this is done by barristers unless the solicitor takes a special training course