What does R in criminal cases stand for?
• Criminal Cases = R (The Crown) v the Defendant. This is where a case is heard between the Crown (the Government) and an individual or an organisation or a company e.g. R v Smith where Smith is the accused. The “R” stands for Rex (the King) or Regina (the Queen) – in some reports this is abbreviated to Reg.
Which court has the highest level of authority?
However, all States and Territories have a Supreme Court, which is a superior court of record and is the highest court within that State or Territory. These courts also have appeal divisions, known by various names across the country, including the Full Court, Court of Appeal, and Court of Criminal Appeal.
Which cases are heard in the High Court?
They usually only hear civil matters involving more than R100 000, and serious criminal cases. They also hear any appeals or reviews from lower courts (Magistrates’ courts) which fall in their geographical jurisdiction.
Can the high court change the Constitution?
When a court interprets an Act of parliament in a way parliament did not intend, parliament can change the law. But when the High Court strikes down a law as unconstitutional, only a change to the constitution will enable parliament to override the court. But it has proved very hard to change the constitution.
Why does the high court need to interpret the Constitution?
The High Court has the power to consider federal—national—laws and decide whether the Constitution gives the Australian Parliament the power to make that law. The High Court can invalidate—cancel—any law or a part of a law it finds to be unconstitutional.
Can state laws override Constitution?
Article VI, Paragraph 2 of the U.S. Constitution is commonly referred to as the Supremacy Clause. It establishes that the federal constitution, and federal law generally, take precedence over state laws, and even state constitutions.
Do ambassadors live at the embassy?
In some countries, American staff may live on the embassy compound, but they frequently live in apartments or houses in the host city. The ambassador’s residence is often used for official functions, and its public areas are often decorated with American art on loan from museums.