NCJ Number
158659
Date Published
1995
Length
55 pages
Annotation
This chapter discusses court and trial procedures in Great Britain.
Abstract
A review of the historical origins of the adversarial system is followed by a description of the characteristics of the common law trial. The latter encompass independence, adversarialism, and fairness. A section on rational decisionmaking considers efficient management, ritual, authority, and trials as narrative. An examination of summary and indictable trial considers the classification of offenses and mode of trial as well as the responsibilities of magistrates and clerks. The latter topic addresses the organization and work of magistrates' courts. Other topics associated with summary and indictable trial are the Crown Court, waiting times and hearing times, appeals from the magistrates' court, appeals from the Crown Court, the criminal division of the Court of Appeal, appeals against acquittal, the House of Lords, and pardons and the European Court of Human Rights. Other topics discussed in this chapter are the bail decision, legal representation, pretrial discovery, pretrial review, plea bargaining, jury issues, the role of the judge, exclusion of evidence and the voir dire, withdrawal of issues, and summing up. 2 figures, 3 tables, and 50 footnotes