The Crown Court

The Crown Court in England and Wales hears the most serious criminal cases — murder, rape, robbery, large-scale fraud and other indictable offences. Cases are tried by a judge sitting with a jury of 12 ordinary people. The judge directs the jury on points of law and passes sentence; the jury decides guilt by considering the evidence presented.

Further reading: an editorial guide on this topic opens in a new window for additional context.

A defendant in the Crown Court may have a barrister or solicitor advocate to argue their case. Decisions of the Crown Court can be appealed to the Court of Appeal. Northern Ireland has an equivalent Crown Court structure. Scotland's most serious criminal court is the High Court of Justiciary.

You may be asked the size of a Crown Court jury (12), or which kinds of crime are tried there.

Test yourself on this topic

These questions from the official-format question bank cover the same material. Tap any question to see the correct answer and a short explanation.

1. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, serious offences are tried in front of a judge and a jury in a
2. The most serious cases in Scotland, such as murder, are heard at a ______ with a judge and jury
3. In Scotland, serious cases are heard in a ______ with either a sheriff or a sheriff with a jury
4. At a court trial a jury decides
5. A jury is made up of members of the ______ chosen at random from the local electoral register
6. What sort of cases do Crown Courts and Sheriff Courts deal with?

Keep going

• Read the full study notes for Government & Law.
• Try a practice test on this chapter.
• Sit a full 24-question timed mock.
• Browse the complete library of topic explainers.

Related topic explainers