Design a courtroom that will allow a bullying incident in your school to be dealt with.
Produce an annotated sketch to show how a bullying courtroom might look. Show how witnesses would be protected.
- How would such sensitive issues be handled?
- Where would the court be sited?
- What would it look like?
- How would people enter and leave?
- Would they see each other?
- Who would be the judge
- Would there be a jury?
- Would people have representatives?
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Could you call a witness?
Plenary
Why is it necessary for witnesses to be questioned thoroughly? Can this ever be balanced with witnesses feeling comfortable?
Extension activity
Write a letter to a high court judge explaining the arguments for allowing people under 18 to sit on a jury.
Teachers' Background
Magistrate's court - deals with summary offences.
- This court is where all criminal cases start out. If the offence is less serious then the magistrates will come to a verdict themselves. If it is a more serious case then they will send it on to a Crown Court - if they believe there is enough evidence to hold a trial.
- There is no jury at a magistrate's court.
- Magistrates or justices of the peace (JPs) are members of the local community.
Crown court - deals with indictable offences.
- A judge is in charge of the trial but the jury reach the verdict. If the jury find that the accused is guilty then the judge will decide upon a sentance and in doing so will consider prior convictions. These will not be revealed to the jury.
- Jury: 12 men and women aged between 18 and 70. The jury are selected at random from the electoral register.
If the accused is under 18 they will probably be sent to a youth court. This differs from an adult court in the following ways:
- There is a panel of three magistrates who have been trained to deal with cases involving young people.
- The magistrates will include at least one woman and at least one man.
- The public will not be allowed into the court.
- If the accused is under 16 their parents must attend the court.
- The name and identity of the accused may not be reported in the press.
Those under 18 may appear in an adult court if:
- They have been charged along with an adult, in which case they will go to a magistrates court.
- The crime they are accused of is so serious that the trial will be heard in a crown court.
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