Yr 12 Legal Studies: Crime - Role of the courts in the criminal justice system

NSW Legal Studies syllabus HSC course

Core topic: Crime

This learning activity is aligned to the syllabus 'learn to' statement:

• Describe the role of courts in the Criminal Justice System.

The aim for this learning activity is to provide students with a deeper understanding of the course content through reference to either contemporary case studies, media events or amendments to legislation.

In this learning activity students will revise the legal concept of court hierarchy in Australia. Reference to quantitative data provides an overview of the number of cases that are finalised in both local and higher courts.

There are opportunities for students to investigate the role of the Local Court for not only adjudicating on summary offences but also its function for indictable committal hearings. Reference is made to the Robert Xie committal hearing as his example with be carried through to its appearance in a higher court of law.

The role of the higher courts is from the perspective as appellant courts of law. Student will have the opportunity to review two focus studies examining the trial and appeal for Gerard Bayden-Clay and Robert Xie.

The activity requires students to read reference material and to complete a series of review based questions.

This learning activity is also cross reference with syllabus outcomes as well as aligned to the relevant theme and challenge component.

The inclusion of contemporary media events and court cases is well suited to act as a supplement for student class notes.