The LAW COURTS

There are two main kinds of courts, and two main kinds of judicial officers to correspond with them. Courts of first instance are presided over by magistrates, who are normally Justices of the Peace (JPs); higher courts (crown courts) by judges, or in some cases, senior barristers specially appointed to perform judicial functions for part of their time.

Every person charged with an offence is summoned to appear before a local magistrates’ court. A person convicted by a magistrates’ court may appeal to the Crown Court against the sentence imposed if he has pleaded guilty, or against the conviction or sentence imposed if he has not pleaded guilty. Where the appeal is on a point or procedure of law, either the prosecutor or the defendant may appeal from the magistrates` court to the High Court. Appeals from the Crown Court, either against conviction or against sentence, are made to the Court of Appeal. The House of Lords is the final appeal court for all cases, from either the High Court or the Court of Appeal. Before the case can go to the Lords, the court hearing the previous appeal must certify that it involves a point of law of general public importance and either that court or the Lords must grant leave for the appeal to be heard. The nine Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are the judges who deal with Lords appeals.