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Accused person is someone who is charged with a crime. Accused people can represent themselves, but can also have a solicitor or barrister represent them. Accused people usually sits in a section called the dock, or behind the bar table.
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Court reporter or transcriber is a court staff member who records the hearing and writes down or types what is being said.
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Closed circuit television is used to convey images of court proceedings to another location when a person is giving evidence from a remote witness facility, or is appearing in court from another location via video conferencing.
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Court officer helps the judicial officer and people coming into the courtroom. He (or she) organises court lists, calls witnesses and administers oaths.
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Corrective service officer provides transport and security for people in custody.
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Defendant is a person who must defend his or her actions in court. Defendants may be defending themselves against a criminal or civil charge or have had a court claim for money brought against them. In a criminal trial, a defendants is called the accused.
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Defence lawyer represents the defendant or accused person. Sometimes several defence lawyers represent the accused person. In the district or supreme courts the defence barrister may wear a wig and gown.
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Interpreter assists the court by translating speech from one language into another or by translating sign language into speech
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Judge or judicial officer:
In the district court and supreme court, the judicial officer is called a judge. In the local court the judicial officer is a magistrate. You call a judicial officer 'Your Honour' when you are in court.
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Judge's associate
helps the judge in court with documents and exhibits used in the case.
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Jurors
are citizens who sit on a jury panel and consider the evidence in court and decide on matters of fact. Jury panel members are selected at random from the public. They deliver a verdict on the case. In criminal cases there is a jury of 12 while in some civil cases there is a jury of four people. In the local court, cases are heard without a jury.
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Media
representatives from the press, television and online services can attend most court proceedings, except those in the children's court.
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Prosecutor
represents the police or state in criminal matters. In the local court, the prosecutor is a specially trained police officer while in the district or supreme court, the prosecutor is a lawyer from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
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Public
are allowed into the public galleries of courtrooms in New South Wales to watch most cases. However, some cases, including all children's court cases, are closed to the public.
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Support people come to court to offer support to particular witnesses. They are chosen by particular witnesses, but do not play a role in court proceedings. |
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Witness is someone
who gives evidence in a case. Witnesses answer questions asked by the prosecutor and the defence. Before giving evidence, each witness is asked to take an oath or affirmation, which is a promise to tell the truth. |