Who makes the decisions in the magistrates court?

Who makes the decisions in the magistrates court?

Most criminal cases are first heard in this court in some form. Most civil actions are also heard here. Unlike the Supreme and District Courts, Magistrates Courts have no jury. Therefore, the magistrate makes all decisions in criminal matters, including any penalty.

What happens in the magistrates court?

You may plead guilty to a minor indictable offence and the magistrate either decides the penalty then or sets a date for a sentence hearing. For other indictable offences, the magistrate sets a committal hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to send the defendant to trial in the Supreme or District Court.

How do you address a magistrate in a letter Qld?

The reference must be addressed to the appropriate person e.g. “To the Presiding Magistrate” Any further references to the Judge in the character reference must start with “Your Honour”

What do you call the audience in a courtroom?

The Gallery Most courtrooms have a spectator area in the back, often separated by a “bar” or partition from the rest of the courtroom. Members of the public, including those who come to court to support a family member or friend, sit in this area.

How do I address a magistrate in a letter?

TipsPut the date at the top of the reference.For cases being heard in the Magistrates’ Court, address the reference to ‘The Presiding Magistrate, [court location]’. For cases in the County or Supreme Court, address it to ‘The Presiding Judge’.Start all references with ‘Your Honour’.Sign the reference at the end.

Is a character reference a legal document?

What is a Character Reference? A character reference is a legal document that describes one person’s opinion of another person’s character. Character references are used to assist the Court in their decision making process.

Are character references public record?

The simple answer to this is yes however, you should be aware that there is no absolute right to access these documents. The simple answer to this is yes however, you should be aware that there is no absolute right to access these documents. …

Do judges read character letters?

Character letters for a judge requesting a lower sentence for a defendant are a mainstay of federal criminal cases. This is because most federal judges limit the number of live witnesses, but will receive and review almost any number of support or character letters.