What is the difference between defendant and accused?
An accused is a person charged with an indictable offence heard in a higher court; while a defendant is a person charged with a summary offence, heard before a magistrate in the Local Court.
Should I plead not guilty if I did it?
You should definitely plead NOT GUILTY to your criminal or traffic charge! The criminal justice system is designed for you to plead “Not Guilty.” This is the case because in America you are considered innocent until the prosecutor can prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
What is the difference between being convicted and pleading guilty?
You are not guilty of a crime. Conviction – A conviction means that you have been found guilty of a crime by a court or that you have agreed to plead guilty to a crime. If you are found guilty of, or plead guilty to, any level of crime, you are generally considered to have a conviction.
Can I delay a court hearing?
If you can’t attend or don’t want to attend, let the court know as soon as possible. It is risky to allow a court hearing to go ahead in your absence without letting the court know why you aren’t there.
How do you write a letter to a judge to change court date?
Greet the judge with a formal salutation such as “Dear Judge So-and-So” or “Your Honorable Judge So-and-So.” Identify yourself and your reason for writing to the judge in the first line of the letter’s body. For example, “My name is Jim Jimerson and I am writing to reschedule our evidentiary hearing.”
How do you write a letter to a judge for failure to appear?
Dear [Name], I am writing this letter to you to ask for a sincere apology for failing to attend my court date [Mention Date]. I accept that I have committed a mistake which is not acceptable in any way. However, I request you to understand that since [Mention Reason], I couldn’t show up to court on that day.
Can you get a sick note for court?
Doctors will be aware that medical notes are normally submitted by defendants in criminal proceedings as justification for not answering bail. Medical notes may also be submitted by witnesses who are due to give evidence and jurors. However, a court is not absolutely bound by a medical certificate.