Magistrates Court Proceedings

Every criminal offence begins in the Magistrates Court with 95% of cases being resolved at this level of court. The remaining offences are committed to the Crown Court.

Our Criminal Defence team represent clients in the Magistrates’ Court every day and can deal with cases in this court from start to finish.

There are certain offences that can only be dealt with by a magistrates or a district judge and these are known as ‘summary only’ cases. Many offences are called ‘either way’ offences because they can be heard either in the Magistrates’ court or the Crown Court, depending on the seriousness of the case.