KS3 Citizenship 3b. Personal wellbeing 4d.
KS4 Citizenship 3b. Personal wellbeing 4e.
Current KS3 Citizenship 1a 2b PSHE 4g
Current KS4 Citizenship 1a 2b PSHE 4g

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In this activity, the students read about a variety of fictitious cases and choose whether they should be heard in a magistrates' court or referred to a Crown Court.

Discussion
Introduce the Crown Court as a place where serious criminal cases are heard such as murder, rape, and armed robbery. Why do the students think these cases are not heard in a magistrates' court? (There is no judge or jury in a magistrates' court. These cases can be complicated with lots of evidence to be heard. Both the prosecution and the defence have a better chance of a fair hearing at a Crown Court.) Ask the students to think of other possible cases that might be heard in a Crown Court, and why.

Extension activities
Can the students create a list of a day's cases at a Crown Court, including the details of at least four different cases to be heard in separate courts? They should all be serious criminal cases.