What makes a trial fair

Civics & Economics · Government · ages 14-16

Name ______________________ Date ____________

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
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
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
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
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
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
Closing a limited part of a hearing to protect a child witness always makes the trial unfair.
Circle one: True False
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.

Answer key

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

What makes a trial fair W1-mt_jJF6pQc7a6-s1

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.
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.
Decisions under law without improper outside pressure · Judicial independence protects decisions under the law from improper pressure, including pressure from politicians or popular opinion.
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.
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.
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.
False · A limited closure can have a valid protective reason. Its justification and the remaining safeguards matter.
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.