Essex Police

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						<td style="padding-bottom: 3px"><h3>Latest Updates</h3></td>
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										<td><a href="content.cfm?id=48" target="content" onClick="updateFlash(48);menu_switch('48');">Court Ushers</a></td>
									
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										<td><a href="content.cfm?id=45" target="content" onClick="updateFlash(45);menu_switch('45');">Jury</a></td>
									
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										<td><a href="content.cfm?id=43" target="content" onClick="updateFlash(43);menu_switch('43');">Witness</a></td>
									
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			<h1>Magistrates, District Judge or Judge </h1>
			<P>A Magistrate, District Judge or Judge is in charge of the courtroom (depending on whether it is a Magistrates Court or Crown Court).  They listen to all the evidence and may ask witnesses any questions.  In a Crown Court trial, the jury can write down questions that they can give to the judge who can then ask the witness.  </p>
<p>At magistrates court, the magistrates may be three local people supported by an advisor.  Sometimes there may be just one magistrate who is then called a district judge.  No-one in a magistrates court wears wigs and only the ushers wear black gowns.</p>
<p>At Crown Court it is the jury who decide whether someone is guilty or not guilty.  The judge will decide on any matters of law and if the defendant is found guilty or admits that he or she is guilty, the judge also decides the sentence.  </p>
<p>Judges and some lawyers in a Crown Court wear wigs and gowns.  The court clerk also wear a gown and, in some courts, a wig too.</p>
<p>Youth Court cases are heard by magistrates.  Unlike adult courts, the law restricts access to Youth Courts to:</p>
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<li>members and officers of the court</li>
<li>both sides in the case and their legal representatives</li>
<li>witnesses</li>
<li>other people directly involved in the case</li>
<li>members of the media and other authorised people. (The media may report the case but are not normally allowed to name any young people involved.)</li>
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