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Who is in the courtroom?

These are the main people you need to know about who will be in the courtroom.

     1.  Witness

       This is you. There may be other witnesses beside you but you will give your evidence one at a time.

2.  Defendant

      This is the person that the police believe may have broken the law. 

3.  Magistrate

      The magistrates are in charge of the courtroom at a Magistrates Court. Usually there are three but sometimes there may be just one. It is the magistrates that decide whether the defendant broke the law.

4.  Judge

      At a Crown Court there is a judge instead of magistrates. It is up to the judge to make sure the defendant has a fair trial and that everyone follows the court rules. It is also up to the judge to decide how to punish the defendant if they are found guilty.

5.  Usher

     The usher tells you when it is your turn to come into the courtroom and takes you there.

     6. Prosecution lawyer

     It is the prosecutor’s job to present evidence showing how the defendant may have broken the law. The prosecutor will ask the witnesses questions about what they saw or heard or what happened to them.

7.  Defence lawyer

       It is the defence lawyer’s job to put across the defendant’s point of view.  The defence lawyer also asks the witness questions.

8.  The Jury

      The Jury is made up of 12 men and women from the public. It is their job to listen to all the witnesses and then decide whether or not the defendant is guilty.

9.  Witness Service Volunteer

      The Witness Service Volunteer will explain what will happen when you give evidence and will show you where to go.

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