Courts, judges and a fair trial · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.
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What makes a trial fair

Civics & Economics · Government · ages 14-16
Name ______________________   Date ____________
  1. Which safeguard places the burden of proving criminal guilt on the prosecution?

    • The presumption of innocence in a criminal trial
    • Clear notice of the accusation
    • A public hearing before an impartial court
  2. When a dispute concerns what an existing law means, what is a court's role?

    • Choose the policy that would be most popular
    • Interpret the law and apply it to the dispute
    • Recommend a new law before deciding what the existing law means
  3. What does judicial independence protect?

    • Decisions guided by the views of the appointing government
    • Decisions guided by public opinion on the policy in dispute
    • Decisions under law without improper outside pressure
  4. How does service during good behaviour protect U.S. Article III federal judges?

    • It links continued service to public support for the ruling
    • It protects continued service despite political dislike of a ruling
    • It protects continued service even after removal through impeachment
  5. An accused person is not told which act they are charged with. Which problem does clear notice of the charge address?

    • Difficulty preparing a defence to the accusation
    • Difficulty arranging travel to the courthouse
    • Difficulty learning which public hearings the court schedules
  6. A court can cancel unlawful council decisions but cannot write council policy. It finds a speech ban unlawful. Which response uses its stated review power?

    • Replace the ban with the court's preferred policy
    • Keep the ban because the council approved it
    • Cancel the unlawful ban under its stated decision-review power
  7. Closing a limited part of a hearing to protect a child witness always makes the trial unfair.

    Circle one:   True   False

  8. A court overturns a precedent. Does this alone establish that the resulting change is fully in place in people's lives?

    • Yes. Overturning a precedent completes the practical change.
    • No. The court must amend the constitution's wording before its ruling can matter.
    • No. Legal guidance changes, but practical action may still be needed.
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

What makes a trial fair W1-mt_jJF6pQc7a6-s1

  1. The presumption of innocence in a criminal trial · The presumption of innocence requires the prosecution to prove guilt. Notice and an impartial public hearing serve other protective functions.
  2. Interpret the law and apply it to the dispute · The court resolves the legal dispute by interpreting and applying the existing law, rather than choosing a policy by popularity.
  3. Decisions under law without improper outside pressure · Judicial independence protects decisions under the law from improper pressure, including pressure from politicians or popular opinion.
  4. It protects continued service despite political dislike of a ruling · A politician's dislike of a ruling cannot itself end an Article III judge's service. Removal through impeachment remains possible.
  5. Difficulty preparing a defence to the accusation · The missing information concerns the accusation itself. Knowing the charge allows the defendant to prepare an answer to it.
  6. Cancel the unlawful ban under its stated decision-review power · Cancellation uses the court's stated power. Writing replacement policy exceeds it, while council approval does not answer the finding of unlawfulness.
  7. False · A limited closure can have a valid protective reason. Its justification and the remaining safeguards matter.
  8. No. Legal guidance changes, but practical action may still be needed. · A changed ruling can change legal guidance without completing its implementation. The lesson distinguishes the legal rule from practical change.
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