Rights of the accused. Information not obtained. Assistance to the accused. Legal aid is widely available in Northern Ireland. Unlike the situation in England and Wales, it is non-contributory.
Application is made to the court pending judicial discretion.
The court has the right to defer the decision until the defendant's means have been assessed. Preparatory procedures for bringing a suspect to trial. The investigation of crime is the responsibility of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. Each defendant has the right to challenge a maximum of 12 potential jurors without giving a reason. As in England and Wales, a jury is first invited to reach a unanimous view.