NCTJ Court Reporting Practice Exam

According to the Evesham Justices, what is not sufficient justification for a Section 11 order?

1. Feelings of the victims

2. Proof of harassment or attack

3. A real and immediate risk to the defendant

4. The severity of the crime

The correct answer is: Feelings of the victims

The reasoning behind choosing feelings of the victims as insufficient justification for a Section 11 order lies in the legal framework surrounding such orders. A Section 11 order typically pertains to the protection of a defendant's rights and the consideration of circumstances that merit restrictions on reporting specific details in a court case. In this context, while the feelings of the victims may be taken into account for various aspects of a criminal case, they do not provide a concrete legal basis for imposing limitations or special orders such as a Section 11 order. Courts require more substantial evidence or risk assessments, such as proof of harassment or attack, a real and immediate risk to the defendant, or the severity of the crime, to justify the necessity of such an order. Therefore, focusing solely on the emotional state of the victims falls short of fulfilling the legal requirements needed for a Section 11 order to be justified.