Barristers

There are about 5.000 barristers who defend or prosecute in the higher courts. Although solicitors and barristers work together on cases, barristers specialize in representing clients in court and the training and career structures for the two types of lawyer are quite separate. In court, barristers wear wigs and gowns in keeping with the extreme formality of the proceedings. The highest levels of barristers have the title QC (Queen's Counsel).

JUDGES The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open court. There are a few hundred judges, trained as barristers, who preside in more serious cases. There is no separate training for judges.
	JURY A jury consists of twelve people ("jurors"), who are ordinary people chosen at random from the Electoral Register (the list of people who can vote in elections).

The jury listens to the evidence given in court in certain criminal case, and decides whether the defendant is guilty or innocent. If the person is found guilty, the punishment is passed by the presiding judge. Juries are rarely used in civil cases.

MAGISTRATES A magistrates' court or court of petty sessions, formerly known as a police court, is the lowest level of court in England and Wales and many other common law jurisdictions. There are about 30.000

magistrates (Justices of the Peace or JPs), who judge cases in the lower courts. They are usually unpaid and have no formal legal qualifications, but they are respectable people who are given some training.

CORONERS Coroners have medical or legal training (or both), and inquire into violent or unnatural deaths.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 514; Нарушение авторских прав