Judges Flashcards
(20 cards)
What are the two broad categories of judges in the English legal system?
Inferior Judges and Superior Judges.
Name three types of Inferior Judges.
District Judges, Recorders (part-time), and Circuit Judges.
In which court do District Judges hear summary criminal cases of first instance?
The Magistrates’ Court.
What type of criminal cases do District Judges hear in the Magistrates’ Court?
Summary and some triable either-way offences.
Who decides the verdict and sentence in criminal cases heard by District Judges in the Magistrates’ Court?
The District Judge.
What types of judges hear civil cases in the County Court?
District Judges, Recorders, and Circuit Judges.
What do County Court judges decide in civil cases?
Liability and the appropriate remedy.
Which judges hear criminal trials in the Crown Court?
Recorders and Circuit Judges.
What types of criminal cases are heard in the Crown Court?
Some triable either-way and all indictable offences.
In a Crown Court trial, who advises the jury on the law?
The judge (Recorder or Circuit Judge).
Who decides the verdict in criminal trials in the Crown Court?
The jury.
Name three types of Superior Judges.
High Court Judges, Lord/Lady Justices of Appeal, and Justices of the Supreme Court.
What are the three divisions of the High Court?
Queen’s Bench Division, Chancery Division, and Family Division.
What do High Court Judges decide in civil cases of first instance?
They hear evidence, decide the law, determine liability, and award remedies.
What appeals do High Court Judges hear?
Civil appeals from the County Court and case stated appeals from the Magistrates’ Court.
How many judges usually sit on a panel in the Court of Appeal?
Three.
What types of appeals are heard in the Court of Appeal (Civil Division)?
Appeals about findings of liability or the remedies awarded.
What are the possible outcomes of an appeal in the Court of Appeal?
The court may allow the appeal in full or part, dismiss it, or order a retrial.
What types of cases do Justices of the Supreme Court hear?
Civil and criminal appeals on points of law of public importance.
What is the importance of decisions made by Superior Judges?
Their rulings can become binding precedent under the doctrine of judicial precedent.
