In England, which of the following statements is true about Crown Court trials?

• A. They are always decided by a single judge.
• B. They may be decided by either a judge or a jury.
• C. They are decided exclusively by three lay judges.
• D. They are decided by magistrates.

Answer: (B)

Crown Court trials in England can be heard in two ways: by a single judge or by a judge with a jury. For the most serious indictable offences, the trial is typically in the Crown Court with a jury deciding guilt and the judge handling legal directions and sentencing. For either-way offences, the defendant may choose to be tried by a jury or by a judge alone in the Crown Court. Magistrates’ courts, not Crown Courts, handle the less serious offences. So this statement is true because the format of Crown Court trials can involve either a judge alone or a jury, depending on the case and the defendant’s election.