Firearms must be licensed and their possession is regulated. In British criminal trials the accused in presumed innocent until proven guilty. Trials are in open court and the accused is represented by a lawyer. Most cases are tried before lay justices sitting without a jury. Actions brought to court are usually tried without a jury.
Higher courts deal with more complicated civil cases.
Most judgements are for sums of money, and the costs of an action are generally paid by the losing party. The Lord Chancellor is the head of the judiciary branch of government. The administration of the law rests with him, the Home Secretary, the Attorney General and the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland. The courts of the United Kingdom are the Queen's Courts, the Crown being the historic source of all judicial power. Judges are appointed from among practicing lawyers.