Crown Court
The Crown Court is the superior court in which all proceedings on indictment are brought. It includes proceedings on indictment for offenses that are recognizable under the law of Northern Ireland. The court replaces all courts of assize, commissions, special or otherwise.
Proceedings in the Crown Court shall be heard and disposed of before a single judge. Business may be conducted at any place in Northern Ireland. They may be continuous, intermittent, or occasional. Judges may sit simultaneously to take any number of different cases in the same and in different places.
The judges of the High Court and county court shall sit in the Crown Court in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chief Justice. The classes of cases suitable for allocation to judges of the High Court and Crown Court judges respectively and matters relating to the distribution of business are determined by the Lord Chief Justice.
The Crown Court in relation to attendance, examination of witnesses, contempt of court, enforcement of its judgments and orders, and all incidental matters have the same jurisdiction as the High Court or the county court.
A magistrates’ court committing a person for trial shall specify the place where he is to be tried. In selecting that place, he shall have regard to the convenience of the defense, the prosecution, and witnesses; expediting the trial; and any directions given by the Lord Chief Justice. If either party is dissatisfied with the place of trial, he may apply to the Crown Court for a direction or further directions, varying the place of trial.
The trial of a person committed by a magistrates’ court is not to begin until the expiration of a specified period beginning with the date of his committal. This is the period specified in Crown Court rules.
A sentence imposed or order made by the Crown Court dealing with an offender shall take effect from the beginning of the day when it is made. There is an appeal from the Crown Court to the Court of Criminal Appeal.
The Crown Court has the general powers of courts to compel attendance. It may issue witnesses on the application of parties, likely to be required to give evidence, which is material to the matter and it is in the interest of justice in issuing a witness summons.
A witness summons may require the advance production of materials, documents, or things, at a place specified in the summons and time. It is possible for a person to whom a witness summons is directed, to apply to the court to cancel the summons. The person who disobeys a witness summons without just excuse is guilty of contempt of court.