Courts of Northern Ireland facts for kids
The courts of Northern Ireland are places where civil (disputes between people) and criminal (crimes) cases are decided. They help make sure justice is served in Northern Ireland. These courts follow the law of Northern Ireland.
Before Ireland was divided, Northern Ireland was part of the same court system as the rest of Ireland. After the division, Northern Ireland's courts became separate from the courts in the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland still has its own legal system, different from the rest of the United Kingdom. However, for some things like immigration and military law, there is one court system for the whole UK.
Sometimes, to help solve problems where people might try to scare jurors (the people who decide if someone is guilty) or witnesses, the right to have a jury trial was stopped for certain serious crimes in 1972. Instead, special courts called "Diplock courts" were used. These courts are still common in Northern Ireland for crimes linked to serious public safety issues.
The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service is in charge of running the courts.
Contents
Understanding the UK Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom was created in 2005 and started its work in 2009. It is the highest court for appeals for most cases from all parts of the United Kingdom. This means if a case has gone through all the other courts and someone still wants to appeal, it can go to the Supreme Court. However, it does not handle Scottish criminal cases.
This court took over the appeal duties that used to belong to the House of Lords.
The Court of Judicature in Northern Ireland
The Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland is a group of important courts in Northern Ireland. It was set up by a law in 1978. This group includes:
- The Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland
- The High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland
- The Crown Court
Before 2009, this group of courts was called the "Supreme Court of Judicature." The word 'Supreme' was removed when the new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom was created.
What the Court of Appeal Does
The Court of Appeal is the highest court within Northern Ireland itself. If someone wants to appeal a decision from the Court of Appeal, their case can then go to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. The Court of Appeal hears appeals from the Crown Court, High Court, county courts, and other local courts and tribunals.
There used to be a separate Court of Criminal Appeal from 1930 to 1978. Its jobs were then combined into the new general Court of Appeal.
Exploring the High Court
The High Court of Northern Ireland is divided into three main sections: the King's Bench Division, the Family Division, and the Chancery Division. This court is located in the Royal Courts of Justice, Belfast. The King's Bench Division also has a special section for business and commercial cases, which started in 1992.
How the Crown Court Works
The Crown Court handles more serious criminal cases. These are crimes that are too serious for the magistrates' courts and are sent to the Crown Court for a trial.
Understanding County Courts
,_August_2009.JPG)
County courts are the main courts for civil cases. While very high-value cases go to the High Court, county courts hear many different types of civil disputes, consumer complaints, and appeals from magistrates' courts. When these courts handle cases about children, they are called family care centres. Until 2016, there were seven county court areas in Northern Ireland, but now there is one unified system.
Exploring Subordinate Courts
Below the High Court are several other types of courts. Magistrates' courts handle less serious criminal cases. They also hold early hearings for more serious criminal cases to decide if they should go to the Crown Court. These courts are divided into 21 local areas. When magistrates' courts deal with family matters, they are called family proceedings courts.
Also, there are coroners' courts. These courts investigate why someone died suddenly, violently, or in an unusual way.
