Magistrates Court
In England, all criminal cases have their first hearing at the Magistrates’ Court. We will attend with you and guide you through the process and advise you as to what will happen next.
Hearings in the Magistrates Court, like the Crown Court, are open to the public and the press has full access to all court hearings with very few exceptions. Lots of cases are reported in the press in papers and online, and unlike the days when a newspaper was thrown away, online content stays forever. You may be very concerned about people finding out about your case and personal details, but it is only in extremely rare circumstances that the press can be prevented from reporting your case.
It may well be the case therefore that what is said about you in court by your solicitor will need to be altered if the press is there. You may not want certain information about you and your family being mentioned in open court. All our experienced advocates are capable of putting your case to the court in a way that protects your personal information whilst still achieving the best result possible for you in your case.