The UK Judiciary

The British judicial branch is extremely complex. Unlike most countries which operate a single system of law, the UK operates three separate legal systems: one for England and Wales, one for Scotland, and one for Northern Ireland. Although bound by similar principles, these systems differ in form and the manner of operation.

3.1. The Court System of England and Wales

Her Majesty’s Courts of Justice of England and Wales are the civil and criminal courts responsible for the administration of justice in England and Wales; they are constituted and governed by the Law of England and Wales and are subordinate to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

3.1.1. Supreme Court of the United Kingdom

The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 created a new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom to take over the judicial functions of the House of Lords and devolution cases from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. It started work on 1 October 2009. The court is the supreme court (court of last resort, highest appellate court) in all matters under English law, Welsh law (to the extent that the National Assembly for Wales makes laws for Wales that differ from those in England) and Northern Irish law. It does not have authority over criminal cases in Scotland. The Court's focus is on cases which raise points of law of general public importance. Like the former Appellate Committee of the House of Lords, appeals from many fields of law are likely to be selected for hearing — including commercial disputes, family matters, judicial review claims against public authorities and issues under the Human Rights Act 1998. The Lords of Appeal in Ordinary (Law Lords) who held office on 1 October 2009 were the first justices of the 12-member Supreme Court.

3.1.2. Senior Courts of England and Wales

· Court of Appeal

· High Court of Justice

· Crown Court

Date: 2014-12-29; view: 1273