magistrates' court

• Who are cases in the Magistrates' Court heard by?

  Magistrates.
• Who are magistrates?

  Either legally qualified District judges or unqualified lay judges.
• Who assists the magistrates in Magistrates' Court?

  A legally qualified clerk.
• What are the limitations on the sentences that magistrates can impose?

  The maximum prison sentence for one offence is 6 months or 12 months for two offences.
• What else can magistrates impose other than prison sentences?

  • Fines
  • Conditional discharges
  • Community orders
• What % of criminal cases are heard by magistrates each year?

  97%
• What are the 2 main things that magistrates do?

  • Try all summary cases.
  • Try any triable-either-way offences in which the magistrates are prepared to accept jurisdiction and where the defendant agrees to summary trial by the magistrates.
• What other things magistrates also have to do?

  • Deal with preliminary hearings of any triable-either-way offences which are going to be tried in the Crown Court.
  • Deal with preliminary hearings of all indictable offences.
  • Deal with all the side matters concerned to criminal cases (for example. issuing warrants for arrest and deciding bail applications).
  • Try cases in the Youth Court where the defendants are aged 10-17.