In England and Wales, a magistrates' court is a lower court, where all the criminal proceedings start. Some civil matters are also decided here, notably family proceedings. They have been streamlined to swiftly deliver justice. In 2015, there are roughly 330 magistrates' courts in England and Wales, though the Government is considering closing up to 57 of these.
Summary offences are smaller crimes, that can be punished under the magistrates' court's limited sentencing powers – community sentences, fines, short custodial sentences. Indictable offences, on the other hand, are serious crimes (rape, murder); if an initial hearing at the magistrates' court finds there is a case to answer, they are committed to the Crown Court, which has a much wider range of sentencing power. Either-way offences will ultimately fall into one of the previous categories depending on how serious the particular crime in question is.
Cases are heard by a bench of three (or occasionally two) lay judges, or by a paid District Judge (Magistrates' Court); there is no jury at a magistrates' court. Criminal cases are usually, although not exclusively, investigated by the police and then prosecuted at the court by the Crown Prosecution Service. Defendants may hire a solicitor or barrister to represent them, often paid for by legal aid.
A magistrates' court is a lower court where, in most jurisdictions, all criminal proceedings start. Also some civil matters may be dealt with here, such as family proceedings.
The magistrates' court is the generic name given to a lower court constituted by magistrates and justices of the peace in the Northern Territory, a territory of Australia. There is no actual magistrates court, and the reference to the court is usually a reference to the building. The magistrates court are the first tier in the Northern Territorian court system. The magistrates also have jurisdiction to hear matters in a number of other courts, such as the Juvenile Court, the Family Matters Court, Local Court, Small Claims Court and the Work Health Court.
Constitution
Magistrates courts can be constituted by a stipendiary magistrate or by justices of the peace. The Administrator of the Northern Territory may appoint stipendiary magistrates under the Magistrates Act (NT). The administrator may also appoint a Chief Stipendiary Magistrate and Deputy Chief Stipendiary Magistrates. A stipendiary magistrate receives payment by way of a salary for performing those duties.
The magistrates' courts are the lowest level of the court system in South Africa. They are the courts of first instance for most criminal cases except for the most serious crimes, and for civil cases where the value of the claim is below a fixed monetary limit. South Africa is divided into magisterial districts, each of which is served by a district magistrate's court and in some cases also branch courts or periodical courts. Districts are grouped together into regional divisions served by a regional court, which hears more serious cases. At present there is one regional division established for each province, and the regional court sits at multiple locations throughout the province. As of 2010 there were 384 districts (and thus 384 district courts), 18 subdistricts with detached courts, 79 branch courts and 235 periodical courts. There were 1,914 magistrates including 351 regional court magistrates.
Great Britain and Ireland was a set of special commemorativepostage stamps issued by the Royal Mail in 2006. The stamps were the final part of the British Journey series, which had previously featured Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. It was available as mint stamps, as a presentation pack, stamps cards, and a first day cover.
British Journey series
These stamps are the final issue in the British Journey series; which started in 2003 with Scotland, followed in 2004 with Northern Ireland and Wales, and South West England in 2005. The series was brought to a premature end with this issue due to a lack of popularity amongst collectors.
Stamp details
The stamps were issued as a block of stamps, five wide by two deep. The photographs selected for this issue show no sky but are intended to demonstrate the colours and textures of the United Kingdom. All values are first class.
England were a progressive rock group active in the late 1970s, and briefly reformed in 2006. The band is notable for their album Garden Shed released on Arista Records, and for keyboardist Robert Webb playing a Mellotron sawn in half.
Biography
The band was formed in 1975 by drummer Mark Ibbotson, and, after a variety of prototype groups, stabilised around a line-up of himself, bassist Martin Henderson, guitarist Jamie Moses and keyboardist Robert Webb. Moses and Webb had previously collaborated on an unreleased album. Ibbottson owned a Mk II Mellotron, which Webb took an interest in, later saying "it opens up possibilities. It's having control like the conductor of an orchestra." To make the instrument portable, Webb sawed the instrument in half, rehousing the left-hand manual and the right-hand tapes (which contained the lead sounds on a Mk II model) it in a new case. After a number of gigs at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone, Moses quit and was replaced by Franc Holland. In March 1976, immediately following a showcase gig that resulted in a contract with Arista Records, Ibbotson quit the band and was replaced by Jode Leigh.
... third tier of criminal court to dispense quicker but, inevitably, second-rate justice (Some jury trials may be scrapped in England and Wales as court backlog hits record high, 12 December).
... create a third tier of criminal court to dispense quicker but, inevitably, second-rate justice (Some jury trials may be scrapped in England and Wales as court backlog hits record high, 12 December).
“intermediate courts” would exist between magistrates and crown courts, crucially doing away with the need for a jury for trials that would previously have been in one of England and Wales’ 70-plus crown courts.
“intermediate courts” would exist between magistrates and crown courts, crucially doing away with the need for a jury for trials that would previously have been in one of England and Wales’ 70-plus crown courts.
Specialist courts focused on breaking the addictions of prolific offenders are “efficient” and “a good idea”, the head of the government’s sentencing review has said as he suggested they could be rolled out across England and Wales.
... crown court backlog is to consider whether more cases can be dealt with in the magistrates court ( Crown court backlog in England and Wales ‘could hit 100,000 without radical overhaul’, 1 November ).
... crown court backlog is to consider whether more cases can be dealt with in the magistrates court (Crown court backlog in England and Wales ‘could hit 100,000 without radical overhaul’, 1 November).
... to magistrates' courts ... But the CriminalBar Association said the decision would see the number of inmates in England and Wales climb by up to 1,000 (a fiel picture of Chelmsford magistrates' court).
Labour has also activated OperationEarlyDawn in parts of England and Wales where defendants will be summoned to a magistrates court only when a space in prison is available.
... recorded every day across England and Wales ... We are a membership body for magistrates in England and Wales – we exist to support and guide our members, and help them be better magistrates.
One of the country’s senior judges has issued a “listing direction” to the managers of magistrates’ courts in England and Wales saying that offenders who are on bail and likely to be jailed should ...
About 75,000 prosecutions brought by train companies under the controversial single justice procedure (SJP) could be quashed, the chief magistrate of England and Wales said.
Hundreds of bail hearings at magistrates’ courts will be delayed from Wednesday under OperationEarlyDawn, which orders courts to keep defendants in police cells until prison beds become available.
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