Prosecution right to appeal—terminatory rulings
Produced in partnership with Eva Niculiu of Three Raymond Buildings
Practice notesProsecution right to appeal—terminatory rulings
Produced in partnership with Eva Niculiu of Three Raymond Buildings
Practice notesProsecutor’s appeal against terminating rulings
Part 9 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (CJA 2003) (sections 57–74) gives the prosecution a right to appeal against adverse rulings made by a Crown Court judge in relation to a trial on indictment.
The appeal lies to the Court of Appeal, and only with leave of the trial judge or the Court of Appeal.
Such appeals fall into two broad categories:
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appeals against terminatory rulings, and
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appeals against evidentiary rulings which significantly weaken the prosecution case—the relevant provisions are not yet in force
This Practice Note deals only with the first category of appeal.
The prosecution cannot appeal the acquittal of a defendant in the Crown Court. The purpose of the right to appeal against terminatory rulings is to allow the prosecution an interlocutory remedy against a trial judge’s ruling which would have the effect of terminating the prosecution case, and, if the ruling is found to be wrong and the defendant can still receive a fair trial, allow the trial to resume or
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