CJS 101 Lecture 5: CJS 101 (Introduction to Criminal Justice) - in-class notes 5
Document Summary
In the criminal justice system, members of the judiciary act as an impartial umpire in criminal proceedings. The role of the judge during a criminal trial is to steer each party (the prosecution and the defence) into presenting their case in an orderly fashion that ensures the trial is carried out fairly and efficiently. While appointed by the attorney general, members of the judiciary should be independent from government influences, media coverage and community debate. During the trial the judge also instructs the jury on relevant matters of law and evidence that should be considered when they are reaching a verdict. The notion of judicial independence has a number of related meanings. At an institutional level, judicial independence refers to the ability of the judiciary to function without interference from the government or other external influences. In this respect, the appearance of impartiality is held just as important as impartiality itself.
