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Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service facts for kids

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The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (Irish: Seirbhís Cúirte Thuaisceart Éireann; Ulster-Scots: Norlin Airlan Coort Service), often called the NICTS, is a government agency that helps run the courts of Northern Ireland. Think of it as the team that makes sure all the courts and some special legal groups, called tribunals, work smoothly. It's part of the Department of Justice for Northern Ireland.

The NICTS looks after many different courts, including the main Court of Judicature for Northern Ireland, as well as county courts, magistrates’ courts, and coroners’ courts. They also help manage certain tribunals. Around 830 people work for the NICTS, making sure everything runs well.

What the NICTS Does

The main job of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service is to support the justice system. This means they handle all the behind-the-scenes work that allows judges and legal teams to do their jobs. They manage court buildings, handle paperwork, and make sure court hearings can take place.

Before 2010, when Northern Ireland gained more control over its own laws and justice, the NICTS was managed by a different government minister, known as the Lord Chancellor. The service was officially set up in 1979 to help manage the courts. Now, it works closely with the Northern Ireland Assembly to serve the people of Northern Ireland.

Types of Courts in Northern Ireland

The NICTS helps run various types of courts across Northern Ireland. Each court has a different role in the justice system.

Main Courts

  • Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland: This is the highest level of courts.
    • Court of Appeal: This court hears appeals from decisions made in lower courts. If someone thinks a court made a mistake, they can ask the Court of Appeal to review the decision.
    • High Court: This court deals with serious civil cases, like big disagreements between people or companies, and some important criminal cases.
    • Crown Court: This court handles serious criminal cases, such as trials for major crimes.

Local Courts

Besides the main courts, the NICTS also manages many local courts spread across Northern Ireland. These courts handle a lot of the everyday legal work.

  • Antrim
  • Armagh
  • Ballymena
  • Banbridge
  • Coleraine
  • Craigavon
  • Derry
  • Downpatrick
  • Dungannon
  • Enniskillen
  • Laganside - This location has a County Court, Crown Court, and Magistrates Court.
  • Limavady
  • Lisburn
  • Magherafelt
  • Newry
  • Newtownards
  • Omagh
  • Strabane

See also

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