BUSINESS LAW Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

BUSINESS LAW - Essay Example The difference between them is that the former pre-qualify on the basis of â€Å"good citizenship† working on a part-time basis while the latter are lawyers who sit as full time judges. The former sits in threes with the aid of a legally qualified clerk whilst the latter sits alone (Kelly et al 2005 p. 51; Whincup 2006 p. 7). The Crown Court is part of the Supreme Court together with the Court of Appeal and the High Court. It is a single court which sits in 90 centres unlike the magistrates’ court which is a local court. A Crown Court centre is divided into three tiers: the first tier deals with both civil and criminal cases; the second tier hears criminal cases, and; the third tier hears criminal cases presided by circuit judges and recorders (Kelly et al 2005 p. 52). The Crown Court has a two-fold jurisdiction: original criminal indictable cases, and; appeal cases from summary convictions in the magistrates’ courts. If the accused enters a plea of not guilty, the Crown Court judge hears the case with a jury of twelve. The Court also hears either way-offences (Kelly et al 2005 p. 52). The Magistrates’ Courts, aside from having jurisdiction over criminal cases as stated earlier, have also civil jurisdiction. This civil jurisdiction is largely confined to domestic issues like adoption, affiliation, guardianship and the maintenance and separation issues in separation and divorce proceedings between husbands and wives (Whincup 2007 p. 7).. The County Court is part of the national system and hears minor civil disputes, claims for contract breaches and torts up to  £50,000. A lone judge sits, sometimes joined by a jury. It also hears small claims (below  £5000) although the task is relegated to a registrar who is the court’s administrative officer and follows a less stringent procedural method (Whincup 2007 p. 7). The High Court deals with the most important civil cases with its approximately 100 judges appointed so by the Lord Chancellor. It has