Magistrates Court Protocol

toosepin · 8 Mar 2009 at 18:07

Hi

I'm in court for the next two days as a witness and I've been told the chances are I'm not going to be called, however I still have to attend.

Is there any chance I'll be able to take my laptop in to do some work? I'd rather do something productive if I'm sat in a witness room for 7 hours or so.

Does anybody know what happens at a magistrates court regarding witnesses? Do we have to been herded about or can we go into the court and watch the trial?

Someone mentioned to me your phone is taken off you when you enter but that can't be true for a small court case?

Cosimo · 8 Mar 2009 at 18:11

Read this:

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/infoabout/attend/witness/index.htm

Bar · 8 Mar 2009 at 18:11

http://www.cjsonline.gov.uk/witness/

Some hopefully useful information in the above link.

Alphane · 8 Mar 2009 at 18:13

toosepin said:
Hi

I'm in court for the next two days as a witness

That's what they all say :rolleyes:

Youstolemyname · 8 Mar 2009 at 18:14

I was a witness yearrrrrrrrrs ago at a magistrates over an assault.

All the witnesses were bundled together in a room and there was very little to do other than sit and drink cups of tea. I can't imagine you would be allowed a laptop in there though....

You could call 999 and ask though

Alphane · 8 Mar 2009 at 18:18

Youstolemyname said:
I was a witness

Yes Yes heard it all before son

Von Smallhausen · 8 Mar 2009 at 18:18

toosepin said:
Hi

I'm in court for the next two days as a witness and I've been told the chances are I'm not going to be called, however I still have to attend.

Is there any chance I'll be able to take my laptop in to do some work? I'd rather do something productive if I'm sat in a witness room for 7 hours or so.

Does anybody know what happens at a magistrates court regarding witnesses? Do we have to been herded about or can we go into the court and watch the trial?

Someone mentioned to me your phone is taken off you when you enter but that can't be true for a small court case?

You cannot watch the court proceedings prior to your evidence.

Speak to the witness liaison at the court about usuing your laptop. They may or may not let you use it in the witness room.

You will be waiting in a prosecution waiting room or a defence waiting room. Never the two shall meet.

If you are called to give evidence, you will be required to swear an oath and aways address the Bench as Your Worships unless instructed otherwise.

Nothing raraely happens for the first few hours while prosecution and defence thrash out possible pleas, legal argument etc.

In my experience, which is mainly Crown Court, it is just a waiting game.

toosepin · 8 Mar 2009 at 18:32

Thanks for the great information. Does anybody know if you're allowed to keep your mobile on you?

Von Smallhausen · 8 Mar 2009 at 18:57

toosepin said:
Thanks for the great information. Does anybody know if you're allowed to keep your mobile on you?

In my experience you can but it must be on silent at the very least. Check with the court usher when you arrive.

Meridian · 8 Mar 2009 at 19:41

Von Smallhausen said:
In my experience you can but it must be on silent at the very least. Check with the court usher when you arrive.

Yes, you can keep it, but you need to turn it off. If it goes off in the court the magistrates will have a serious sense-of-humour failure.

M

andyp · 8 Mar 2009 at 20:10

Meridian said:
If it goes off in the court the magistrates will have a serious sense-of-humour failure.

Impossible.

A magistrate doesn't have a sense of humour. Not only are they wildly, outrageously out of touch with the real world and what the word 'justice' means and how it should be practically applied, they can't even see the funny side of it either.

Attu90 · 8 Mar 2009 at 20:30

Ive got to go in June as a witness and I'm hoping it will be resolved before the due date, my biggest problem is I have to take my son to School in the mornings and will then have to travel to court every day and wont get there until about 10am.

I start work at 9:30am but its a lot closer than going to court, i guess i will have to call some one closer to the date to make sure 10am is OK ?

Ive got to go for the whole week

and they have already sent me a cheque for my travel expenses which i believe is a legal catch to make sure you turn up.

Alphane · 8 Mar 2009 at 20:33

Attu90 said:
as a witness

Oh yes do tell...

Hamster · 8 Mar 2009 at 20:38

andyp said:
Impossible.

A magistrate doesn't have a sense of humour. Not only are they wildly, outrageously out of touch with the real world and what the word 'justice' means and how it should be practically applied, they can't even see the funny side of it either.

This is true in the majority of cases. Many back the police without question and aren't doing the job for the right reasons. However this is not true for all magistrates.

Werewolf · 8 Mar 2009 at 20:50

JoeMama said:
This is true in the majority of cases. Many back the police without question and aren't doing the job for the right reasons. However this is not true for all magistrates.

It's amazing there aren't more appeals, and surprising the number of police who seem to feel the opposite is true...

Hamster · 8 Mar 2009 at 21:17

Werewolf said:
It's amazing there aren't more appeals

Not really. If the offence isn't imprisonable then they don't get legal aid so an appeal would be very expensive.

Werewolf said:
and surprising the number of police who seem to feel the opposite is true...

Not sure how true that is but it wouldn't be surprising considering a good magistrate will feel that someone shouldn't be given a criminal record based on poor evidence. Read into that what you will

Meridian · 8 Mar 2009 at 22:20

andyp said:
Impossible.

A magistrate doesn't have a sense of humour. Not only are they wildly, outrageously out of touch with the real world and what the word 'justice' means and how it should be practically applied, they can't even see the funny side of it either.

I assume you're implying that the sentences they hand out are inadequate? If you'd bothered to talk to one, you'd find out that they have very little leeway in sentencing, with most tariffs being set by the government.

M

andyp · 8 Mar 2009 at 22:55

Meridian said:
I assume you're implying that the sentences they hand out are inadequate? If you'd bothered to talk to one, you'd find out that they have very little leeway in sentencing, with most tariffs being set by the government.

M

Not at all my friend.

I know exactly the constraints magistrates are subject to regarding sentencing, and being a former employee of a government agency that, under the remit of the Home Office, worked very closely with both magistrates and crown courts - believe me I've seen the woeful inadequacies of our 'criminal justice system' up close and personal, some cases close enough to blow their last ragged breath straight in my face to be remembered for a long long time.

So your condescending tone really isn't necessary, thanks.

PhillyDee · 8 Mar 2009 at 23:11

Meridian said:
I assume you're implying that the sentences they hand out are inadequate? If you'd bothered to talk to one, you'd find out that they have very little leeway in sentencing, with most tariffs being set by the government.

M

Agreed, I know one through work and he absolutley delights in sending scum down.