The Bill of Pains and Penalties did not afford Caroline the same rights she would have had in a criminal trial. For example, Caroline's defence team were not permitted to have a list of the prosecution witnesses before the trial began. On the 24 July 1820, Lord Erskine presented a petition from Caroline to the Lords, lamenting the prosecution's refusal to provide her with a list of witnesses. She subsequently asked if the house to specify in which places she was alleged to have committed a criminal act.