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exercises jurisdiction in lunacy, bankruptcy and company
winding up matters. The most serious criminal offences
are heard by a Judge sitting with a jury of seven.
The Full Court is presided over by the Chief
Justice and includes one or two Judges of the Supreme
Court. It hears appeals from the Supreme Court and
District Court and has jurisdiction corresponding roughly
to that of the Court of Appeal in England. Appeals may
be brought from the Full Court to the Judicial Committee
of the Privy Council in London.
Legal aid is granted for civil cases provided
an applicant passes the
the reasonably generous means test
and satisfies the Director of Legal Aid that there is a
prima facie case based on tenable evidence.
Legal aid
is available to all persons accused of criminal offences
tried in the Supreme Court, and in the District Court to
persons accused of an offence carrying a maximum sentence
of 14 years or more. When fiscal considerations permit,
legal aid will be extended to all persons accused of any
criminal offence in the District Court. Since 1970, no
person has been refused aid in criminal cases for failing
to pass the means test.
The Administration
The Colonial Secretary is the Governor's
principal adviser on policy, the chief executive of
the Government and the head of the civil service.
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