Accused
In a Criminal Trial the person who has been charged with committing an offence is called the accused in court. If the accused does not have a lawyer, he or she can be sentenced to life

Prosecuter
A Prosecution Lawyer's job is to present evidence to the court to try prove the accused is guilty. They are hired by the government so they are part of what we pay taxes for. They are not there to help you. They will do everything they can to make sure you go to jail.

Jury
A Jury is a group of 12 strangers who listen to the evidence given in a court trial and decide whether you are innocent or guilty.

The people who have been chosen to listen to the facts of a trial in a law court and to decide whether a person is guilty or not guilty.

Doors being open in a courtroom represents open justice. Open justice is where members of the public and media can observe trials and justice being served.

The court system has been used to protect the rights of people, but it has also been used to suppress dissent. This is why we need to be more transparent about our government's actions and how those actions affect us.

Court trials are usually open to the public. Members of the public are encouraged to attend trials to see for themselves how the courts operate. The expectation is that the public gallery will sit silently and observe the proceedings from the back of the room.

There are a number of reasons why the court may decide to hold a trial in private. These include: The court may decide to hold a trial in private if it is satisfied that the interests of justice so require. This could be because:

A judge or magistrate may order that all or part of a hearing be held in private if they are satisfied that the interests of justice so require. The public, media and members of the parties' family are excluded from the courtroom during these parts of proceedings. These hearings usually take place before pre-trial hearings and sentencing proceedings. They can also occur at any time during trials when information needs to be discussed with counsel, such as evidence which has been obtained through covert means (e.g., telephone tapping). The rules governing this type of hearing are found in section 43(2) Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (NSW).

A Defence Lawyer's job is to defend the accused and try to prove their innocence. They are hired by the person who has been charged with a crime, so they work for you. The Defense lawyer may be able to get evidence excluded from the trial that would have convicted you if it had been allowed in court (excluded). This could mean that even though the police say they have enough evidence against you when all of your evidence is presented at trial, there isn't enough for a conviction and therefore no reason for a jury or judge to find you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

A witness is a person who is required to come to court to answer questions about a case. A witness may be a person who has seen or heard something that happened or is about to see or hear something.

Witnesses can be people who are not involved in the case but have information that might help the court decide what happened. Witnesses can also be people who were involved in the case and want to tell their side of things.

The law says you must give your name and address when you go to court as a witness. The judge will ask if you know anything about the case - for example, whether it was an accident, whether someone was driving dangerously or speeding at the time of an accident, how fast they were going etc. You do not have to answer these questions unless asked by a police officer (or another official) while you are giving evidence in court. If you say no, this will stop them from asking any further questions until after your evidence has been given at trial.

If they do ask more questions then it is up to you whether or not to answer them - if so then make sure that your answers are accurate and truthful otherwise there could be serious consequences for yourself!

Bar table The bar table is where both the prosecution and defence lawyers sit.

It has a desk in front of it, where the lawyers sit and talk to their clients. The bar table is also used by the judge.

The coat of arms represents no one is above the law The coat of arms also represents the judge and court operating under the Commonwealth. The crown is a symbol of the king's power, which he has over all people. The crown is used to protect people from being persecuted or imprisoned by others in society.

The flag of Australia honours our federation and the Commonwealth

The Judge presides over the court and deals with any legal issues that arise during the trial. He/She informs the jurors about their role and instructs them about what the law is.

The Magistrate presides over the court and deals with any legal issues that arise during the trial.

judge sits in an elevated position so they can ensure the proper process is being followed and as a symbol of ultimate authority and fairness. The magistrate has a right to appoint

The Bench Clerk sits in front of the Magistrate and assists with administration and legal research. He/she announces the cases and calls people into court. Their job is to direct people where to stand, read the charges out (in a criminal proceeding) and administer the oath or affirmation to witnesses.

The Magistrate is the judge and presides over all criminal proceedings, including trials by jury. The Magistrate also has the power to issue warrants for arrest of persons charged with a crime.

In addition to presiding over criminal cases, the Magistrate may hear civil matters such as small claims actions (up to $5,000), family law cases and other miscellaneous legal matters.