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ARCHBOLD MAGISTRATES’ COURTS CRIMINAL PRACTICE 2008

www.sweetandmaxwell.thomson.com  

Oh! No! Not another Archbold! 

Yes, but Barbara Baines and her team have produced an excellent new edition of Archbold for the Magistrates’ Courts for 2008.  

It has undergone useful change this time to reflect the law and procedure for taking a case to the magistrates’ court, and recent enhancements ensure that the ‘Archbold’ name will always mean authority, trust and reassurance for both old and new practitioners. 

As with all serious legal works today, ‘the Magistrates’ Archbold’ has a coveted author team comprising barristers, judges, solicitors and clerks who know best and have the hands on experience so needed by the busy practitioner. 

The one volume structure of the book is the bonus for me after struggling for years carrying different procedure volumes for the various courts I have appeared in. The 2008 edition has everything you need for the workload in the magistrates’ court and is presented in a particular order which is to be welcomed by the Bar.  The layout follows the progress of a case and includes detail on the complex procedures for the youth court and the recent, substantial legislative changes. 

The Archbold title remains the definitive guide for the work of the criminal justice process including the magistrates’ courts even though there are splendid alternative versions from other publishers depending on which circuit you practise on.  

This Thomson title covers all criminal matters relevant to the magistrates’ court as well as the youth court and procedure prior to trial in the Crown Court for which we use its older, long established brother. As is to be expected, the Magistrates’ Archbold states the law clearly and explains how it is applied whilst giving authoritative guidance and the required full citations from both statute and case law.

THE ONE SHOP STOP PRACTITIONER’S DREAM

The best point is where the book explains how the law should be interpreted in clearly laid out segments, then being applied carefully with practical guidance on the substantive law issues dealing logically with offences on a chapter-by-chapter basis. Of much use to more junior staff will be the coverage of pre-trial issues, summary trial itself, sentencing, costs and the current state of legal aid.  Full guidance is provided on the complex procedures we now have for youth court work and for those cases involving mentally disordered offenders. 

SENTENCING 

Up-to-date sentencing tariffs and guidance on sentencing, including discussion on aggravating or mitigating factors are also contained in the Magistrates’ Archbold with coverage in the following areas:

·        The amended PACE Codes of Practice

·        Criminal Procedure Rules and Practice Directions

·        Information of the Sentencing Guidelines on Domestic Violence

·        Guidance on Sentencing, including up-to-date tariffs

·        New legislation covering the Fraud Act 2006, Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, Identity Cards Act 2006, Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006  

The new Archbold comes up to the highest expectations and surpasses them for me for the quick and efficient preparation and handling of a criminal matter from start to finish in the magistrates’ court. You are badly advised if you don’t have this new edition.

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