Courtney Lowes
Unit 23
P2
Criminal Court Hierarchy
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the highest court that we have
within the UK. It was once known as the House of Lords.
The Supreme Court would usually have the final say in a
lot of criminal appeals and would decide what happens
to the defendant.
Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal
The court of appeal would deal with criminal cases
which were dealt with in the lower courts. They would
be given the case if the defendant was appealing against
the sentence that they were given.
Crown Court
The Crown Court is the court which would deal with any
criminal cases that were more serious. An example of
this would be if somebody has been murdered. The
Crown Court would have a judge and a jury and they
would deal with appeals from the magistrate’s court.
The judge within the crown court would be able to
decide and give community prison sentences to the
defendant if that are the fair decision for the case.
Magistrates Court
Every criminal case that came in would go to this court
first and then would go up further to the crown Court if
it was seen as a more serious case. Example of a case
which would be dealt with in the magistrate’s court
would be thing such as damage. The magistrate within
this court would be able to sentence somebody to 6
months in prison at the most.
Unit 23
P2
Criminal Court Hierarchy
Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the highest court that we have
within the UK. It was once known as the House of Lords.
The Supreme Court would usually have the final say in a
lot of criminal appeals and would decide what happens
to the defendant.
Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal
The court of appeal would deal with criminal cases
which were dealt with in the lower courts. They would
be given the case if the defendant was appealing against
the sentence that they were given.
Crown Court
The Crown Court is the court which would deal with any
criminal cases that were more serious. An example of
this would be if somebody has been murdered. The
Crown Court would have a judge and a jury and they
would deal with appeals from the magistrate’s court.
The judge within the crown court would be able to
decide and give community prison sentences to the
defendant if that are the fair decision for the case.
Magistrates Court
Every criminal case that came in would go to this court
first and then would go up further to the crown Court if
it was seen as a more serious case. Example of a case
which would be dealt with in the magistrate’s court
would be thing such as damage. The magistrate within
this court would be able to sentence somebody to 6
months in prison at the most.
