Every case starts in the Magistrates Court, whether it is because you are to be fined for being drunk and disorderly or because you have been charged with murder.
Some cases stay there. The list above gives you an idea of what a Magistrates’ Court will deal with. The Magistrates, or sometimes a District Judge sitting on their own, have up to 12 months’ custody at their disposal when dealing with an imprisonable summary only case. You may be completely unaware you have a defence, or you could forget something vital which the Court should know about you, to understand your circumstances better.
Therefore it is crucial you obtain good advice from experienced solicitors about your plea. Even the most minor matters can cause complete upheaval in terms of employment or in family matters. Our experienced advocates are on hand to present your case in the best way possible, whether it is a bail application to ensure you do not wait in prison for your trial, or to put forward every aspect of mitigation on your behalf.
If your case is one which is termed ‘domestic violence’ or there is another reason you are not allowed to ask questions yourself of the complainant and/or witnesses, the Court may appoint us to ask questions on your behalf. If you do not qualify for legal aid this may be your only avenue to obtaining representation.