Crown Court Department

Once your case has been committed from the Magistrates Court your file will enter into our Crown Court department.

Your case will be assigned to one of our many experienced paralegals, overseen and reporting directly to our head of department and senior partners.

Your individual case will be considered and we will engage a Barrister / Advocate that will further prepare and present your case in the Crown Court. Your case may merit the engagement of a second Barrister or Queens Counsel (QC) which we will arrange drawing on our experience and knowledge of the Bar Counsel.

Noble Solicitors pride themselves on the quality service we provide and have gained vast experience over many years dealing with all types of criminal cases from petty theft to murder and multi million pound fraud, furthermore within our Crown Court department we have a specialist team solely dedicated to defending clients facingVery High Cost Cases (VHCC) and serious fraud.

Your Case

The first hearing at the Crown Court is usually the Plea and Directions Hearing in which you will be required to enter your pleas. If you plead not guilty the court will set a date for your trial and will make various directions to ensure your case is fully prepared before your trial date. If you plead guilty the court may sentence you immediately or may adjourn your case for pre-sentence reports to be prepared.

Representation Order

Your representation order that was granted at the Magistrates Court will be extended to cover the Crown Court proceedings. This will mean that you will continue to be entitled to free representation although this is subject to the Crown Court assessing your income. You will be required to complete a form which will then be sent to the Crown Court for assessment. Please note that if such form is not completed, the court can make an order for you to pay the defence costs.

Case Preparation

There are a number of matters that require your instructions to ensure we are fully prepared to defend you at your trial.

(a) Your Statement (Proof of Evidence)
This is an important document which remains confidential amongst your defence team and forms the basis on how we prepare your defence. Your statement will assist us in deciding what investigations we will need to make, what defence witnesses will be required including any expert witnesses on your behalf. It will also assist us in deciding which prosecution witnesses need to be cross-examined and what you have to say about their statements and the Crown evidence as a whole.

(b) Comments on Evidence
We will ensure that we have read to you all the evidence served by Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and to take your instructions on each and every witness. Again this will allow us to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses in your defence and to advise you accordingly.

c) Conference with Barrister / Advocate
At some stage in your case preparation we will instruct a Barrister / Advocate to represent you at your trial. All Barrister / Advocates instructed are experts in criminal law and Noble Solicitors have a pool of select Barristers and Advocates who have proved to us their dedication of defending to the highest standard. We will ensure that prior to your trial you will meet your barrister to discuss your case and allow you to have the opportunity to discuss with them any concerns that you may have.

d) Trial
Changes in procedure at the Crown Court and Legally aided cases now limit the attendance as to whether a representative from a firm of solicitors is allowed to attend the trial to support the Barrister / Advocate. At this stage your defence team will have completed preparing your defence and briefed your Barrister / Advocate to such a high standard that he or she is fully conversant with how your defence is to be presented to the Jury.

Court of Appeal if convicted

Following your trial or sentence the firm will ensure that your Barrister / Advocate advises us as to any possibility of appeal to the Court of Appeal. The appeal will be on the grounds of an excessive sentence and/or unsafe conviction.

It is only when Barrister / Advocate advises us that there are good merits to appeal can an appeal be lodged.

Following the submission of your appeal, your case will be firstly considered by a single High Court Judge who will decide whether or not "leave" (permission) is given for you to have your appeal considered by three Court of Appeal Judges.

If leave is refused, you will be entitled to apply for leave from Judges in open court and your barrister will make the appropriate representations at the hearing to the Court of Appeal. Please note that by making such an application you do run the risk of having your sentence increased by the Court of Appeal if they consider your grounds of appeal have absolutely no merits.

If leave is granted by the single Judge or by the Court of Appeal, your appeal will then be considered and your Barrister / Advocate will make the submissions on your behalf.