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Appealing a Criminal Case in the Courts of England & Wales
Believing that you have the basic right to a fair trial in the courts of England and Wales would probably be your first mistake. Believing that there is a right of appeal would be the second. The television shows of Rumpole of the Bailey, Judge John Deed and many others imply that the court system is there to right the wrongs, uphold the principles eschewed by Lady Justice and to protect the innocent.
Nothing frankly could be further from the truth.
In a legal system that dates back to the Norman invasion of 1066, the traditions and procedures which govern the English legal system have little changed. It is with this statement in mind that I ask you to join me in considering the appeals process of England and Wales. Throughout this article, any references to the court system, should be taken as meaning the court system of England and Wales only. Those of Scotland and Northern Ireland differ in process and jurisdiction, and do not really concern us here.
To understand the appeals process, you must first understand the different levels of courts that exist in the criminal court system. Naturally there are a selection of different courts for other areas such as the family division and the employment sector; and as such this article concerns the criminal court system only.