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The court is primarily administered by the Clerk of Court, who wears a white collar/bib with bands and a black gown. They are assisted by the Court Usher, who is the only person that will move when the court is in session and will wear a gown over standard business dress.
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In front of the Clerk's desk will be the advocates' seating, facing the judge. This may take the form of one long bench or two separate benches, and may even be the same physical desk as the Clerk's. The defence will always sit closest to the
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On the other side of the advocates' seating will be the witness stand, facing the jury box. There may be a 'screen' - normally a curtain - to hide the witness from the defendant, to make it easier to testify.
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for indictment trials at first instance. However, the
Beeching Commission in 1969 recommended the replacement of the assize system, following the model of the 'crown courts' introduced by the
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Behind all of this is the dock, a partitioned area for the defendant(s). There will normally be direct access to the court's cells from here, often through a door leading downstairs.
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Appeals against conviction or sentence arising from the magistrates’ courts are normally heard by a circuit judge or a recorder sitting with one or two experienced magistrates.
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Behind the dock, and sometimes alongside other seating but facing inwards, will be additional seating for police officers, family, and other people relevant to the case.
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Court dress is almost always worn, although wigs may be removed during exceptional circumstances when directed by the judge - for example, when children are testifying.
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Under this procedure, the Crown Court has the power to confirm, reject or alter any part of a decision. It may impose any sentence within the powers of a magistrate.
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Behind the instructing solicitors' seating will be additional seating for paralegals or probation representatives, as well as a bench for authorised press reporters.
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With the merger of the various court services into what is now HM Courts and
Tribunals Service, the Crown Court frequently shares facilities with the
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The remainder of cases are dealt with by circuit judges and recorders, although recorders will normally handle less serious work than circuit judges.
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In front of the judge will be the desk of the Clerk of Court, facing the court. There may also be a desk for the Usher here.
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Defendants may be committed from a magistrates' court where its sentencing powers are inadequate. This could be because:
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The Crown Court can hear appeals against conviction, sentence or both from those convicted in the magistrates' courts.
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From Crown Court trials on indictment, appeal lies to the criminal division of the Court of Appeal and thence to the
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The most serious cases (treason, murder, rape etc.) may be allocated to High Court judges and senior circuit judges.
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Committals may also arise from breaches of the terms of a
Community Order or a suspended custodial sentence.
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Different courts may have different layouts. Some, often older courts may have very compact layouts - like
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Some courts may have a circular layout, but the overall positioning of elements will remain the same.
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This article is about the court in
England and Wales. For the Crown Court in Northern Ireland, see
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The average time from receipt by the Crown Court to completion was 177 days by the start of 2016.
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In 2015 the Crown Court heard 11,348 appeals and the average waiting time was 8.8 weeks in 2015.
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In 2015, the Crown Court dealt with 30,802 cases for sentencing from the magistrates' courts.
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There are several physical elements to a Crown Court. From the position of the defendant:
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Higher rights of audience are required to speak in the Crown Court. This means that only
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The judge sits on a large bench at the very back of the court. Above will be a
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1036:(1st paperback ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 102.
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On one side of the advocates' seating will be the jury box, facing inwards.
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As such, the current Crown Court was established on 1 January 1972 by the
1199:(2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. p. 163.
827:
may choose to attend hearings, but they are not able to speak directly.
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Behind the advocates' seating will be instructing solicitors' seating.
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Allocation of cases is conducted according to directions given by the
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Behind this, or often above on a balcony, will be the public gallery.
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Wasik, Martin (2015), Wasik, Martin; Santatzoglou, Sotirios (eds.),
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851:
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649:, establishing a unitary trial court for the whole jurisdiction.
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Challenges to decisions of
England and Wales magistrates' courts
1318:
1063:(11th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 260.
750:
In all other cases, appeal from the Crown Court lies by way of
1099:"Criminal court statistics (quarterly): January to March 2016"
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The Crown Court carries out four principal types of activity:
952:
The
Management of Change in Criminal Justice: Who Knows Best?
674:
Sentencing of defendants committed from magistrates' courts
1195:
Hirschel, David; Wakefield, William; Sasse, Scott (2007).
1105:. National Statistics, Ministry of Justice. 30 June 2016.
713:
The combination of convictions exceeds 12 months' custody
1083:
Courts Act 1971 (Commencement) Order 1971 (SI 1971/1151)
948:"The Crown Court: Unified Structure or Local Justice?"
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England and Wales formerly used a system of courts of
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904:- or some, often newer courts may be very spacious.
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Simplified layout of a typical Crown Court courtroom
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The conviction requires more than 12 months' custody
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1224:(17th ed.). Abingdon: Routledge. p. 311.
954:, London: Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp. 226–240,
771:The judges who normally sit in the Crown Court are
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1197:Criminal justice in England and the United States
922:List of Crown Court venues in England and Wales
705:Sentencing committals from magistrates' courts
1330:
1057:Ward, Richard; Akhtar, Amanda (26 May 2011).
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677:Sentencing of those convicted in Crown Court
27:Court of first instance of England and Wales
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1060:Walker & Walker's English Legal System
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208:His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service
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1681:1972 establishments in the United Kingdom
1006:"About HM Courts & Tribunals Service"
1686:Courts and tribunals established in 1972
1448:Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes
671:Hearing appeals from magistrates' courts
636:Criminal Justice Administration Act 1956
938:
642:. c. 34). in Liverpool and Manchester.
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406:Justice of the peace / lay magistrates
49:
1243:
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668:Trials by jury of indictable offences
7:
1220:Slapper, Gary; Kelly, David (2016).
610:The Crown Court is administered by
162:This article is part of the series:
1033:The Machinery of Justice in England
1008:. HM Courts & Tribunals Service
917:List of courts in England and Wales
335:Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
231:Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
1676:Senior courts of England and Wales
1310:Directgov guide to the Crown Court
587:The Crown Court sits in around 92
582:Senior Courts of England and Wales
25:
1573:Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
1458:Court of Great Sessions in Wales
685:Appeals from magistrates' courts
576:and appeals of the decisions of
526:Crown Court and County Court in
468:Law Society of England and Wales
268:President of the Family Division
179:
727:Appealing Crown Court decisions
612:HM Courts and Tribunals Service
431:Director of Public Prosecutions
1433:Court for Crown Cases Reserved
1346:Judiciary of England and Wales
1277:"HMCTS who's who: Crown Court"
1145:Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
1:
614:, an executive agency of the
362:President of the King's Bench
263:President of the King's Bench
1578:Chief Baron of the Exchequer
927:United States district court
733:Appeals from the Crown Court
568:responsible for hearing all
295:County Court Business Centre
273:Chancellor of the High Court
34:. For the TV programme, see
1671:Courts of England and Wales
1588:Justice of the Common Pleas
1583:Justice of the King's Bench
1568:Lords of Appeal in Ordinary
1423:Court of Appeal in Chancery
739:Courts of England and Wales
290:List of County Court venues
165:Courts of England and Wales
1707:
819:chartered legal executives
736:
730:
688:
379:List of Crown Court venues
32:Courts of Northern Ireland
29:
18:Midland and Oxford Circuit
1547:Common Serjeant of London
656:and magistrates' courts.
436:Crown Prosecution Service
57:
1463:Court of High Commission
1222:The English Legal System
960:10.1057/9781137462497_13
173:Law of England and Wales
821:can represent clients.
599:. When sitting in the
562:court of first instance
225:Civil and family courts
1540:Recorder of Manchester
1402:High Court of Chivalry
990:Senior Courts Act 1981
902:Gloucester Crown Court
857:
605:Central Criminal Court
557:
545:
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65:Central Criminal Court
41:. For the church, see
1691:Crown Court buildings
1535:Recorder of Liverpool
1515:Court of Appeal judge
1468:Court of King's Bench
1438:Court of Common Pleas
1127:The National Archives
855:
704:
684:
603:, it is known as the
580:. It is one of three
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357:High Court of Justice
350:Court of Appeal judge
258:High Court of Justice
251:Court of Appeal judge
1305:CBBC Newsround Guide
1141:"Magistrates' Court"
1030:(3 December 2015) .
420:Criminal prosecution
1510:Master of the Rolls
1392:Court of Protection
1117:"Senior Courts Act"
815:solicitor advocates
758:of the High Court.
616:Ministry of Justice
578:magistrates' courts
574:either way offences
570:indictable offences
396:Magistrates' courts
312:Court of Protection
246:Master of the Rolls
196:Ministry of Justice
140:Magistrates' courts
115:indictable offences
1646:Admiralty Advocate
1593:Justice of Chester
1530:Recorder of London
1505:Lord Chief Justice
1453:Court of Exchequer
1407:Magistrates' Court
1176:on 28 October 2016
1122:legislation.gov.uk
866:Royal Coat of Arms
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799:Lord Chief Justice
560:) is the criminal
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478:Solicitor advocate
345:Lord Chief Justice
43:Crown Court Church
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1625:Solicitor General
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1443:Court of Chancery
1249:"The Crown Court"
969:978-1-137-46249-7
773:High Court judges
640:4 & 5 Eliz. 2
607:or "Old Bailey".
593:England and Wales
566:England and Wales
520:
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317:Court of Chivalry
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88:England and Wales
16:(Redirected from
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1172:. Archived from
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367:High Court judge
278:High Court judge
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595:, divided into
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329:Criminal courts
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