Understanding the Judiciary and Courts
The judiciary is a group of judges who interpret the law. Their job is to make sure that trials are fair. This means that everyone has a chance to present their side of the story. Importantly, the government cannot interfere with judges’ decisions.
What Happens When the Government Acts Illegally?
Sometimes, people claim that the government’s actions are illegal. If judges agree, the government must change its actions or ask Parliament (the law-making body) to change the law. For example, if a law is found to violate someone’s rights, judges can order that the law be changed or that the affected person be compensated.
Judges and Their Decisions
Judges also resolve disputes between people or businesses. These disputes could be about contracts, property, or employment issues. For instance, if two people disagree over a contract, a judge can help determine who is right based on the law.
Types of Courts in the UK
There are different types of courts in the UK, and they vary between England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Magistrates’ Courts and Justice of the Peace Courts
- England, Wales, and Northern Ireland: Minor criminal cases are typically heard in a Magistrates’ Court.
- Scotland: Minor criminal offences go to a Justice of the Peace Court.
Magistrates are local community members who do not need legal qualifications. They are trained for the role and supported by legal advisers. They decide if someone is guilty and what the punishment should be.
Crown Courts and Sheriff Courts
- England, Wales, and Northern Ireland: Serious crimes are tried in Crown Courts with a judge and a jury.
- Scotland: Serious cases are heard in Sheriff Courts, and the most serious cases, like murder, are heard in the High Court.
A jury is made up of members of the public chosen randomly. In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, there are usually 12 jurors, and in Scotland, there are 15.
Youth Courts
In cases involving young people (ages 10 to 17) in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, cases are usually heard in Youth Courts. These courts have special rules. For example, the public cannot attend, and the young person’s identity is protected.
Scotland uses a different system called the Children’s Hearings System for young offenders. In Northern Ireland, there’s youth conferencing to decide how to deal with young offenders.
Questions for Review
Easy Level Questions
- What is the role of the judiciary?
- A) To make laws
- B) To interpret laws
- C) To break laws
- D) To ignore laws
- Who cannot interfere with judges?
- A) The public
- B) The police
- C) The government
- D) Lawyers
- What happens if a government action is illegal?
- A) The judges ignore it
- B) The government must change it
- C) The judges can be punished
- D) The public gets to vote
- What type of cases do magistrates handle?
- A) Serious criminal cases
- B) Minor criminal cases
- C) Civil cases
- D) Family cases
- How many members are there in a jury in England?
- A) 10
- B) 12
- C) 14
- D) 15
- What is a Youth Court for?
- A) Adults only
- B) Young people aged 10 to 17
- C) Serious crimes
- D) Family disputes
- Who supports magistrates in their work?
- A) The government
- B) Legal advisers
- C) The police
- D) The public
- What is a common type of dispute judges decide on?
- A) Criminal cases
- B) Weather disputes
- C) Sports outcomes
- D) Political elections
- How many members are there in a jury in Scotland?
- A) 12
- B) 13
- C) 14
- D) 15
- Who must attend Youth Court hearings?
- A) Only the accused
- B) The parents or carers
- C) The police
- D) The public
- What are judges responsible for during trials?
- A) Making laws
- B) Ensuring fairness
- C) Enforcing laws
- D) Ignoring laws
- What can judges order if a public body is not respecting legal rights?
- A) A change in practices
- B) A new law
- C) A raise for judges
- D) A public apology
- What do magistrates decide in minor cases?
- A) The law
- B) The verdict and sentence
- C) The appeal process
- D) The witness list
- What is the purpose of a jury?
- A) To make laws
- B) To listen to evidence and decide a verdict
- C) To investigate crimes
- D) To provide legal advice
- What type of cases do Crown Courts handle?
- A) Minor offences
- B) Serious offences
- C) Civil cases
- D) Youth cases
- Who can be a magistrate?
- A) Only lawyers
- B) Members of the local community
- C) Only judges
- D) Police officers
- What happens if a jury finds someone guilty?
- A) The jury decides the penalty
- B) The judge decides on the penalty
- C) The public decides
- D) The defendant is released
- What court hears minor criminal offences in Scotland?
- A) Crown Court
- B) High Court
- C) Justice of the Peace Court
- D) Youth Court
- What is a key feature of Youth Courts?
- A) Public can attend
- B) Parents must attend
- C) Trials are open
- D) No legal support
- How do judges contribute to disputes?
- A) They ignore them
- B) They help resolve them
- C) They create them
- D) They pass them to the police
Medium Level Questions
- Which court hears serious criminal cases in England and Wales?
- A) Magistrates’ Court
- B) Crown Court
- C) Justice of the Peace Court
- D) Family Court
- If a judge finds a government action illegal, what can the government do?
- A) Ignore the ruling
- B) Change its policies or law
- C) Appeal to the public
- D) Close the court
- What is the maximum number of magistrates in a Youth Court?
- A) Two
- B) Three
- C) Four
- D) Five
- In Scotland, what is the highest court for serious cases?
- A) Sheriff Court
- B) High Court
- C) Justice of the Peace Court
- D) Magistrates’ Court
- How are jurors selected?
- A) By judges
- B) By the government
- C) Randomly from the electoral register
- D) By lawyers
- What is the role of a District Judge in Northern Ireland?
- A) To act as a public representative
- B) To serve as a legal professional overseeing cases
- C) To enforce laws
- D) To decide public policies
- What law protects the identity of young offenders?
- A) Youth Protection Act
- B) Legal Rights Act
- C) Media Protection Act
- D) Youth Justice Act
- What happens if a jury in Scotland finds a defendant ‘not proven’?
- A) The defendant is guilty
- B) The case is dismissed
- C) The defendant is not guilty
- D) The case is retried
- Which of the following is true about magistrates in Scotland?
- A) They must have legal qualifications
- B) They are unpaid community members
- C) They work only part-time
- D) They only handle civil cases
- What must happen after a youth is convicted in a Youth Court?
- A) Their case is closed immediately
- B) They are sentenced in public
- C) Their parents or guardians must attend
- D) They can choose their penalty
- In England and Wales, what is the age range for Youth Court cases?
- A) 8 to 14
- B) 10 to 17
- C) 12 to 18
- D) 16 to 21
- What is the relationship between judges and Parliament in terms of laws?
- A) Judges make laws
- B) Judges can suggest laws to Parliament
- C) Judges can declare laws illegal
- D) Judges have no relationship with Parliament
- When can a jury be excused from service?
- A) They want to
- B) They have a criminal conviction
- C) They are busy
- D) They forget
- In Northern Ireland, what system is used for youth offenders?
- A) Youth Court
- B) Youth Conferencing
- C) High Court
- D) Family Court
- What is the primary role of judges in civil disputes?
- A) To punish individuals
- B) To interpret laws and resolve issues
- C) To create new laws
- D) To represent the government
- What is the outcome if a jury does not reach a verdict?
- A) The case is automatically dismissed
- B) The judge decides
- C) A retrial may be ordered
- D) The jury is dissolved
- How many jurors serve in a typical Crown Court in England?
- A) 10
- B) 12
- C) 14
- D) 16
- What is unique about the Children’s Hearings System in Scotland?
- A) It is open to the public
- B) It focuses on rehabilitation
- C) It only handles minor offences
- D) It is led by magistrates
- Why do magistrates receive training?
- A) To become lawyers
- B) To understand their responsibilities
- C) To increase their pay
- D) To work with police
- What must happen before a young person can be convicted in a Youth Court?
- A) They must confess
- B) They must have a legal representative
- C) They must be accompanied by their parents
- D) They must attend school
Hard Level Questions
- In England and Wales, what type of cases does a District Judge handle?
- A) Youth cases
- B) Serious criminal cases
- C) Some civil and family cases
- D) Only traffic offences
- How do magistrates ensure they are making the right decisions?
- A) They rely on public opinion
- B) They consult legal advisers
- C) They ask for government advice
- D) They have no need for consultation
- What legal obligations exist for jurors in a trial?
- A) They must be lawyers
- B) They must listen and deliberate fairly
- C) They can ignore evidence
- D) They can be biased
- What happens if a juvenile offender repeatedly commits crimes?
- A) They are released
- B) They face harsher penalties
- C) They have to attend youth conferences
- D) They can go to an adult court
- What is the purpose of a legal adviser in a Magistrates’ Court?
- A) To represent the accused
- B) To guide magistrates on legal matters
- C) To collect evidence
- D) To make sentencing decisions
- What verdicts can a Scottish jury deliver?
- A) Guilty, not guilty
- B) Guilty, not guilty, not proven
- C) Guilty, innocent
- D) Only guilty
- What is the primary concern of judges when interpreting laws?
- A) To promote public welfare
- B) To enforce government policies
- C) To ensure fairness and justice
- D) To create new precedents
- What must happen when a public body does not respect legal rights?
- A) The public can sue
- B) Judges can issue orders for change
- C) The government pays fines
- D) The case is closed
- In Scotland, who primarily handles serious criminal offences?
- A) Justice of the Peace
- B) District Judge
- C) Sheriff
- D) Magistrate
- What is the role of the jury in Crown Courts?
- A) To present evidence
- B) To decide guilt or innocence
- C) To enforce laws
- D) To create laws
- What is the process for appealing a decision made in a Youth Court?
- A) It cannot be appealed
- B) An appeal is made to a higher court
- C) The jury must re-examine the case
- D) The government reviews the case
- How does the Crown Court differ from the Magistrates’ Court?
- A) Crown Court only hears civil cases
- B) Crown Court handles serious offences with juries
- C) Magistrates’ Court handles serious cases
- D) Crown Court does not have judges
- What ensures that trials in the UK are fair?
- A) Public opinion
- B) Legal representation
- C) The judiciary’s independence
- D) Government oversight
- What is one responsibility of magistrates in their local community?
- A) To create laws
- B) To provide legal advice
- C) To serve as an example of justice
- D) To ignore minor cases
- What happens to jury members who do not attend jury duty?
- A) They are fined
- B) They are replaced automatically
- C) They cannot serve again
- D) They are publicly shamed
- How does the legal system protect the identity of young offenders?
- A) No one can know their names
- B) Only family can know their names
- C) Courts keep records private
- D) Media cannot publish their names
- What is the role of the police in relation to the courts?
- A) To create laws
- B) To enforce laws and gather evidence
- C) To decide court cases
- D) To present cases to the public
- Can magistrates’ decisions be appealed?
- A) Yes, to a higher court
- B) No, they are final
- C) Only by the government
- D) Only by legal advisers
- What must happen during a trial in the UK?
- A) Evidence must be presented
- B) Only the accused speaks
- C) The public decides
- D) The judge decides without evidence
- What happens if a jury member is found to be biased?
- A) They are praised
- B) They are removed from the jury
- C) They decide the verdict
- D) They are paid extra
Answers and Explanations
Easy Level Answers
- B) To interpret laws
- C) The government
- B) The government must change it
- B) Minor criminal cases
- B) 12
- B) Young people aged 10 to 17
- B) Legal advisers
- A) Criminal cases
- D) 15
- B) The parents or carers
- B) Ensuring fairness
- A) A change in practices
- B) The verdict and sentence
- B) To listen to evidence and decide a verdict
- B) Serious offences
- B) Members of the local community
- B) The judge decides on the penalty
- C) Justice of the Peace Court
- B) The parents or carers must attend
- B) To interpret laws and resolve issues
Medium Level Answers
- B) Crown Court
- B) Change its policies or law
- B) Three
- B) High Court
- C) Randomly from the electoral register
- B) To serve as a legal professional overseeing cases
- D) Youth Justice Act
- C) The defendant is not guilty
- B) They are unpaid community members
- C) Their parents or guardians must attend
- B) 10 to 17
- C) Judges can declare laws illegal
- B) They have a criminal conviction
- B) Youth Conferencing
- B) To interpret laws and resolve issues
- C) A retrial may be ordered
- B) 12
- B) To guide magistrates on legal matters
- B) To promote rehabilitation
- B) They must listen and deliberate fairly
Hard Level Answers
- C) Some civil and family cases
- B) They consult legal advisers
- B) They must listen and deliberate fairly
- B) They face harsher penalties
- B) To guide magistrates on legal matters
- B) Guilty, not guilty, not proven
- C) To ensure fairness and justice
- B) Judges can issue orders for change
- C) Sheriff
- B) To decide guilt or innocence
- B) An appeal is made to a higher court
- B) Crown Court handles serious offences with juries
- C) The judiciary’s independence
- C) To serve as an example of justice
- A) They are fined
- D) Media cannot publish their names
- B) To enforce laws and gather evidence
- A) Yes, to a higher court
- A) Evidence must be presented
