UK Law and Court - What are the different courts? | The 4 Criminal Courts explained

An overview of the different courts that may hear criminal cases in the UK legal system. Covering the role of:
The Magistrates' courts
The Crown Court
The Court of Appeal
The Supreme Court

[waynezahra]

Wow. I know I’m 1 year late but that was extremely formative and direct. Thank you kindly Mr. 🙏🏻

[Lachi]

Very helpful and easy to understand. I cannot find the other videos you mention though.

[thefiestaguy]

A few things to note.

Firstly - all cases start in the magistrates to my knowledge, by start, I mean where the accused goes for their first hearing & plea.

Secondly - it may surprise some people to know that you can actually go on trial in the magistrates court, the only differences being that the threshold of evidence required for conviction is lower, it's "on the balance of probability" as opposed to "beyond all reasonable doubt" in crown court, and that a trial in magistrates court does not have a jury, and is heard usually by several magistrates, or a district judge, usually referred to as a "DJ" in legal context.

If you are sent to court for a summary offence, and plead guilty, they will hear it and decide the punishment, or sentence, they can only hand out a maximum of 6 months imprisonment for each offence, BUT only for a total of 12 months imprisonment no matter the amount of offences.

If you plead not guilty, for a summary only offence, then you will go on trial in the magistrates court.

If you go to magistrates for first hearing, for a serious (indictable) offence, such as rape, kidnap, murder, GBH (with or without intent) and plead guilty, they refer the case to crown straight for sentencing, if you plead not guilty, they refer the case to crown court for trial, with a jury and a judge.

Finally, magistrates are not paid, and are volunteers, often being local teachers, shop workers, etc. They often have little or no knowledge of law which is why they have a court clerk present at hearings that can advise them on the relevant points of law or the legislation that is in play in relation to that specific offence or offences.

Judges, on the other hand, are legally qualified and most know the law very well, having been hearing cases for many years, many crown court judges are of older age, typically 40-60 and have been in the industry a long time.

[Metallica]

I graduated law school in the US and im sitting for the bar in July. I've always wondered about the differences and similarities. It seems like your Crown Court is similar to the Court of Common Pleas here. We also have the MDJ as well, but it seems to serve as the funnel for the CCP. Good vid!

[karengallie]

Really useful video. Helps explain the court levels. I wish to apply to become a magistrate

[Malcolm_]

Thanks for this easy to understand video!

[kimballentyne]

Interesting. Thank you for sharing this news.

[mirshahid]

Please share videos about law….thank you

[waimar]

Is It true the if a defendant appeal one guilty verdict to a superior court and loose the appeal...the previous sentence Is charged with more fine or more jail time?

[iaincampbellking]

This relates ONLY to England and Wales. Scotland has a different structure likewise Northern Ireland

[glasgowmcglasgowfacevotegr]

The video deals with the law and legal system in England and Wales and not Scotland or Northern Ireland so it is in no sense referring to the law or legal system of the UK. Scots law is civilian-based [e.g. deriving from Roman/European civil law systems] with some common law elements. England and Wales have a common law system, like many countries formerly in the Empire. So-called 'UK Law' would relate only to the business of the Supreme Court in civil matters and constitutional/public law arising from questions of devolution/legislative competence, and [formerly] matters arising from EU law where domestic legislation conflicts with that of the EU.

[hannahgibbs]

When will you make your never video on the difference civil law and criminal ? Please

[clxshy]

looking for someone in my class watching this

[axl]

For the criminal law, is the Supreme Court the same as the House of Lords?

[chubbyBunny]

everyone's talking about law and I'm here just trying to get a flipping british passport.

[Annikilou]

Please note this video is misnamed and misleading throughout. This is the English legal system. The Scottish court system is entirely different.

[hokouhing]

I wonder the people's smears even spread to overseas as insults are committed any criminal matters in my life insulted and hurt matters!

What people a nation it has what govt it is all are destroying matters for their own mistakes!

The people they don't address their own problems own family problems but blamed theirs matters toward govt instead ! How ugliness of such benefits for own but harm to others for a whole! Nature and personality !


Those they have not had their good parents any advantage but stole as the thieves advantages cheaters, their fake roleplay for 64 like in respect of their lacks and grievances blamed for their govt instead of their poor families! Personality! Their excuses to overseas via 64 incidences are proven matters how such personality they are! Truth is always true! People into education previlleges should know how worst the people their minds without such advantages!

[pottywotty]

It used to work till the interpretation of law got manipulated, much like science.