Crown Court Reporting in Detail

What is the Crown Court and who sits there?

The Crown Court deals with all indictable-only offences (murder, rape, robbery, serious fraud), either-way offences where the defendant has elected jury trial or magistrates have declined jurisdiction, and appeals from magistrates courts. It also sentences defendants committed from magistrates courts where the lower court's powers are insufficient.

Judges sitting at the Crown Court include Circuit Judges, Recorders (part-time judges), and High Court Judges for the most serious cases. The tier of judge matters for your reporting: High Court Judges sit on the most significant cases and their sentencing remarks carry the greatest public interest.

Cases can be found via HMCTS at gov.uk/find-court-tribunaland the judiciary's listing pages. There is no single consolidated public listing for all Crown Court cases, so local knowledge and press office relationships are important.

The stages of a Crown Court trial

• Plea and trial preparation hearings (PTPH): The defendant enters a plea. If not guilty, the case is case-managed: trial dates set, issues identified, evidence agreed. Automatic reporting restrictions from magistrates court are lifted once a plea is entered.
• Jury selection (voir dire is rare in England and Wales): Jurors are balloted from the panel. Juries are empanelled in public. You may report jury selection but not anything that might identify an individual juror.
• Prosecution opening speech: Counsel outlines the prosecution case. This is fully reportable and often contains the clearest narrative of the alleged offence. Take careful notes — the opening may be the only structured account of the whole case.
• Prosecution evidence: Witnesses are called and cross-examined. You may report what is said in open court. Be alert to any documents or exhibits tendered in evidence — they become part of the public record.
• Defence case: The defendant may give evidence (but cannot be compelled to). Defence witnesses are called. The jury must be directed that a defendant who does not give evidence cannot be assumed guilty for that reason alone.
• Closing speeches and summing-up: Counsel address the jury; the judge sums up the evidence and directs on law. The summing-up is critical — it defines the legal questions the jury must answer. Report it carefully.
• Verdict and sentence: Guilty verdicts lead immediately to sentencing (sometimes adjourned for reports). Sentencing remarks by the judge are fully reportable and are public documents. Acquittals are equally important — report them clearly and accurately.

Contempt risk during a live trial

Once a defendant is sent for trial, proceedings are active for contempt purposes under the Contempt of Court Act 1981. The strict liability rule applies until the defendant is acquitted or convicted and sentenced. The test is whether your publication creates a substantial risk of seriously prejudicing the proceedings.

See our contempt and active proceedings guide for the full legal framework.

Sentencing remarks and how to report them

Crown Court judges are encouraged to deliver sentencing remarks in plain English and the judiciary publishes some remarks for high-profile cases at judiciary.gov.uk/judgments. These are excellent primary source documents for court reporting.

When reporting sentencing, always include: the total sentence; the period to be served before release on licence; any extended licence period; and any ancillary orders. A sentence of “eight years” without reference to the release point and licence can seriously mislead readers.

For transcripts of sentencing remarks not published by the judiciary, apply to the court listing officer. The transcript service is provided by Marten Walsh Cherer at mwc-reporting.com — costs apply and turnaround times vary.

Reporting restrictions specific to Crown Court

• ›Section 4(2) orders (CCA 1981) — postponing publication until a related trial concludes. Must state reasons. Challengeable.
• ›Section 11 orders — withholding a name or matter from open court (e.g. blackmail victims, informers, national security). Cannot be used simply to protect privacy.
• ›Youth anonymity — s.45 Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 applies to defendants, victims, and witnesses under 18 in Crown Court proceedings. Can be lifted in the public interest.
• ›Sexual offences anonymity — Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 protects complainants for life from the moment of allegation.
• ›Derogatory assertion orders — prevent publication of false or irrelevant information about a victim used in mitigation.
• ›Witness anonymity orders — in cases of genuine threat to witnesses, their identity may be concealed from the jury and the public.

Crown Court reporting checklist

• I have identified the judge, counsel for prosecution and defence, and confirmed the charge(s).
• I have checked whether any orders or restrictions are in place before or at the start of the hearing.
• I am taking contemporaneous notes of what is said in open court — this underpins my absolute privilege defence.
• I am not publishing prior convictions, other charges, or bad character evidence not yet before the jury.
• I have not used social media to check or confirm information about the defendant during the trial.
• My report of the verdict clearly distinguishes between a guilty plea and a finding of guilt after trial.
• My sentencing report includes the full sentence, release point, licence period, and any ancillary orders.
• I have given the defendant or their representative an opportunity to respond to any allegations repeated in my report.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions