NCTJ Preliminary Law Exam (Key Words) Exam 2024

NCTJ Preliminary Law Exam (Key Words) Exam 2024 Absolute Discharge - CORRECT ANSWER-A decision by a court after conviction that the offender should not be punished for the crime Affidavit - CORRECT ANSWER-A statement given on oath to be used in court procedings Alibi - CORRECT ANSWER-A claim by an accused that he/she can show he/she was not at the scene when a crime was committed and is therefore innocent Allocation - CORRECT ANSWER-The procedure at magistrates' courts to determine whether an either-way criminal case is dealt with by magistrates or by a Crown court. Also known as the mode of trial hearing Arraignment - CORRECT ANSWER-The procedure at Crown courts when charges are put up to defendants for them to plead guilty or not guilty. Automatic, automatically - CORRECT ANSWER-Terms used for reporting restrictions which ban publication of certain information if not court order is needed to put them into effect in respect of a particular case or individual. Statutes specify the circumstances in which they operate. Bail - CORRECT ANSWER-The system by which a person awaiting trial, or appeal, may be freed by a court pending the next hearing. Bailiff - CORRECT ANSWER-A court official who enforces its orders. Case law - CORRECT ANSWER-The system by which report of previous cases and the judges' interpretations of the common law are used as precedents where the legally material facts are similaw Circuit judge - CORRECT ANSWER-A judge appointed to sit at a Crown court or county court within a circuit - one of the regions of England and Wales into which court administration is divided. Unlike High Court judges, circuit judges do not go on circuit - that is, travel to various large centres dispensing justice. Claim form - CORRECT ANSWER-The document which begins many forms of civil action Claimant - CORRECT ANSWER-The person who brings an action in the civil court Committal for sentence, committed for sentence - CORRECT ANSWER-When a defendant at a magistrates' court who has admitted an offence or been convicted at trial is sent to the crown court to be sentenced because the magistrates decide their powers of punishment are insufficient. (there are no reporting restrictions on committals for sentence).