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Explain how lay magistrates and juries are used in civil and criminal cases.
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| Submitted: Thu Aug 21 2003
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a) Explain how lay magistrates and juries are used in civil and criminal cases. Lay magistrates' main role is to deal with criminals, but they also exercise certain administrative functions. Lay magistrates hear over 1,000,000 cases a year, nearly 95% of all criminal trials. In the criminal division, lay magistrates (LM's) have 4 main functions. They deal with court procedures, such as preliminary hearings and committal proceedings. LM's also deal with bail and remand hearings. Lay magistrates also deal with trials, with offences in summary and either way cases. LM's also deal with appeals, from Magistrates Court to the Crown Court, with a mixed bench of LM's and Crown Court judges. In the civil division, lay magistrates can deal with cases such as non payment of taxes, licence applications, and family court cases. Lay magistrates are said to have local knowledge, and thought to be more aware of the area involve, and...
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