What does the judiciary have to do with human rights?
I can explain how the judiciary can be seen to work both for and against human rights.
What does the judiciary have to do with human rights?
I can explain how the judiciary can be seen to work both for and against human rights.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- There is a clear relationship between the judiciary and human rights.
- The judiciary strengthen human rights through equality before the law, fair, public trials and appropriate sentencing.
- They also allow citizens to defend their rights through the civil courts.
- The judiciary has been accused of failing rights, e.g. Rwanda policy, Belmarsh dentention case, Tony Nicklinson case.
Keywords
Judiciary - the branch of the state that is responsible for enforcing the law; it is composed of judges and other legal officials
Human rights - basic rights and freedoms that all people are entitled to
Court - a formal legal institution where disputes are heard and resolved, and where justice is administered according to the law
Common misconception
The judiciary always protects and strengthens human rights, no matter what.
The judiciary plays a key role in defending rights, but it does not always act quickly or strongly enough. Judges often follow the law as it is written, and sometimes they decide that Parliament, not the courts, should make the final decision.
To help you plan your year 11 citizenship lesson on: What does the judiciary have to do with human rights?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 citizenship lesson on: What does the judiciary have to do with human rights?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
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Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
- Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
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Adult supervision required
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The branch of the state that is responsible for enforcing the law and is composed of judges and other legal officials is known as what?
Q2.Which is the correct ending to the following sentence? Human rights are basic rights and freedoms that ...
Q3.What is the generic name of the formal legal institution where disputes are heard and resolved, and where justice is administered according to the law?
Q4.Which of the cases below would be heard via civil law, not criminal law?
Q5.Match the case to the most likely court that would hear the case in its entirety.
civil court
magistrate court
crown court