1. The Purpose of Our Courts

Why Do We Have Courts?
Where Did Our Court System Begin?
How Do Courts Make Decisions?
Common Law
Statute Law
What Features Distinguish Our Courts?
The Adversary System of Justice
What Kinds of Cases Appear in Court?
Civil Law
Criminal Law
Our Constitution and the Law
The "Paper Process" of the Law


2. The Structure of Our Court System

Why Do We Have Different Levels of Courts 
The Courts of Prince Edward Island
Provincial Court
Youth Court
The Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island
The Trial Division
The Appeal Division
The Federal Courts
The Federal Court of Canada
The Supreme Court of Canada




Part Two: Spending The Day In Court: Court Participants and Procedures



3. Who's Who

The Courtroom Setting
The Participants
Judges
Juries
Lawyers
Court Staff
Witnesses


4. What Happens in Court -- Civil Procedure
Starting the Action
Proving the Claim
The Civil Trial


5. What Happens in Court -- Criminal Procedure
First Appearance
Who Will Try the Accused?
Guilty or Not Guilty?
Release From Custody
The Preliminary Hearing
Proving the Charge
The Criminal Trial


6. Conclusion

   Glossary
   Resources

The text has been adapted for use in Prince Edward Island by Community Legal Information Association of Prince Edward Island,  Inc.  with permission from the Legal Services Society.  It is intended as general legal information only and should not form the basis for legal advice of any kind.

Community Legal Information Association of Prince Edward Island, Inc. (CLIA) is a non-profit corporation and a registered charity.  Its goal is to provide Islanders with understandable, useful information about our laws and our justice system.

CLIA is funded by the Department of Justice, Canada, the Government of Prince Edward Island, and the Prince Edward Island Law Foundation.