Chapter 14 Self-test questions

Those in court
. Which of the following is not entitled to sit in the Crown Court without special permission?

. Every judge, including Puisne Judges, have to be given specialist training before they are entitled to sit on certain trials, e.g. sex offences.

. How many classifications of offences are there for Crown Court business?

. In a trial on indictment the judge has responsibility for both the law and the facts and is assisted by a jury.

. Who has control over the management of a case in the Crown Court?

. You are counsel for the defence. You listen whilst counsel for the prosecution address the judge and you realise that they are citing a case that you know has been overruled. If the judge rules as the prosecution ask it will be favourable to your client. You are entitled to keep silent and not correct prosecuting counsel because your duty is to your client and it is only when you mislead the court is this duty displaced.

. Section 308 of the _____ Act permits a defendant to plead guilty by post to any summary-only offence.

. In the case of _______ the House of Lords held that a judge does have the discretion to try an offender in his absence in a trial on indictment.

. A person must be 'ordinarily resident' in the UK for how many years in order to qualify for jury service?

. A serving police officer may sit on a jury.

. A person who is sentenced to three years' imprisonment is disqualified from sitting on a jury for how long?

. The courts have held that Article 6 of the ECHR (Right to a Fair Trial) does not allow a judge to alter the racial constitution of a jury panel.

. It is not possible for a judge to dismiss an individual juror. If he believes there has been impropriety he must dismiss the whole jury.

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