Media Law 1

Basic court structure, Basic Law.

In England and wales:

At the lowest level you have;

Magistrates court - Tribunals

Crown Court - County Court (Split in to criminal and civil respectively)

High court

Court of Appeal (split in to Civil and criminal divisions)

The supreme court - The top of the pile where for all appeals.

Break Down

Magistrates court:

All criminal cases in England and Wales start in the magistrates courts.

Indicitable offences are sent to the crown court

Triable either way cases can be at crown or county court.

Cases heard by JP (Justice of the peace)

Crown Court;

The most serious offences are sent here, for example; Murder, Rape, Section 18 wounding etc.

Cases heard by a Judge and Jury.

They hear cases from magistrates court
They deal with cases sent for sentance from the magistrates court
They try indictable offences such as those mentioned above.

County Court;

Deal with civil law.

Cases such as contracts and common law torts are dealt with at country court, such as claiming compensation money.

High court;

Deals with civil cases, and listens to appeals from the crown court. It is split up in to the following divisions;

Family Divison - Deals with divorce, adoption etc.

The Queens Bench Division - Deals with large compensation cases also listens to some appeals from crown or magistrates court

Chancery Division - Deals with wills, winding up orders etc.

Court of Appeal;

Deals with Criminal and civil appeals from crown courts and County courts respectively.

Supreme court;

Deals with cases that are appealed from the court of appeal in civil and criminal cases.

The European court of justice is what cases are reffered to when involving Eurpean law, this is the only court above the supreme court that cases can go to. The European court of Human rights is a court which deals with cases of human rights, where someone thinks a case can't be solved in the national system.

References;

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_rights/legal_system/courts_of_law.htm#high_court

McNae's essential law for journalists 19th addition