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<p>No additional safeguards have been put in place for Single Justice Procedure cases
due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A case dealt with under the Single Justice Procedure
is dealt with in the same way as any other case, except that a single magistrate can
deal with it (rather than two) and the hearing need not be in public. Therefore, the
magistrate must comply with the same legislative safeguards as all other proceedings,
and the Sentencing Council Sentencing Guidelines apply in the same way.</p><p>In addition,
the Single Justice Procedure has a number of further safeguards in place. All defendants
can veto the procedure and insist on a hearing in open court. In addition, the magistrate
can decide to refer the case to open court if they deem the case is not appropriately
dealt with using the Procedure. As with any conviction and sentence by a magistrates’
court, the defendant has the right of appeal against conviction and sentence to the
Crown Court.</p><p>If a defendant was unaware of the proceedings they are entitled
to make a statutory declaration which revokes the conviction and recommences the proceedings.</p>
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