Magistrates' Court

Japanese: Magistrates' Court（英語表記）MagistratesCourt

…The main sources of law are common law, equity law, and acts of Parliament, but the weight of acts of Parliament has been steadily increasing, and the binding power of precedent has been weakening in recent years. For example, in criminal proceedings in England, more than 90% of criminal cases are handled by the Magistrates' Court, which is usually composed of about three magistrates who do not have legal qualifications, and the remaining serious crimes are handled by the Crown Court, which was established in 1971, and appeals from both courts are handled by the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal. The judicial system enjoys high prestige and autonomy as the center of the rule of law, and while it retains traditions such as lay judges and juries, it has also been undergoing reforms such as state aid for litigation costs (introduced in 1949) and the abolition of the death penalty (1965). …

From the Magistrate

...Since the 14th century, numerous statutes have imposed many judicial and administrative powers and duties on the magistrates, and they have been the pillars of local governance, especially since the 16th century. However, since the second half of the 19th century, various elected local bodies have been created and many powers have been transferred to them. Currently, the magistrates' courts, both civil and criminal, are often exercised through them, and these courts usually consist of two to seven lay magistrates, or only one paid magistrate, who is a legal professional. In criminal matters, they have the powers of preliminary hearings (which can be conducted by only one magistrate), summary trials, and the issuance of warrants, and are also eligible to sit on the Criminal Court, which serves as an appellate court.

*Some of the terminology that refers to "Magistrates' Court" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

Japanese:

…主たる法源はコモン･ロー，衡平法，議会制定法であるが，議会制定法の比重は着実に増し，先例の拘束力も近年緩和されつつある。イングランドの刑事訴訟を例にとれば，刑事事件の9割以上が，通例法的専門資格のない3名程度の治安判事からなる治安判事裁判所Magistrates’ Courtで，残りの重大犯罪が1971年に発足した刑事裁判所Crown Courtで扱われ，両法廷からの控訴は控訴裁判所Court of Appealの刑事部でなされる。司法制度は法の支配の中心として高い威信と自律を享受し，素人判事や陪審員制などの伝統を残している半面，訴訟費用の国家扶助(1949導入)や死刑廃止(1965)などの改革も進められてきた。…

【治安判事】より

…14世紀以後無数の制定法により多くの司法･行政上の権限･義務が課せられ，とくに16世紀以後は地方統治の支柱となったが，19世紀後半から選挙による各種の地方機関が生まれ，多くの権限をそれに移した。現在では，その裁判権は民事･刑事とも多くは治安判事裁判所magistrates’ courtを通して行使され，同裁判所は通常素人の治安判事の際は2名以上7名以下で，法律専門家の有給治安判事の際は1名のみで開廷することができる。刑事裁判権では予備審問(これは1名のみでなしうる)，略式裁判，令状発給等の権限をもつほか，上訴審としての刑事法院の一成員になる資格もある。…

※「Magistrates' Court」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について | 情報

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