15/04/2013 - 21/04/2013 - The Judiciary

The Judiciary

The Judicial branch of state includes all the Judges and courts in the United Kingdom. These are put into three different categories, Criminal, Appeal and Civil Courts these are summarised below.

Criminal

The Magistrates Courts

There are around 400 of these courts in England and Wales, nearly one in each town. Every single case will be tried here and then moved to the Crown Court if needed. 97% of cases are sorted; these are usually Traffic offences or shoplifting cases. They are tried by Justices of the peace or lay magistrates, in other words, people with no legal training and work on a voluntary basis.

The Crown Courts

There are 90 Crown Courts in England and Wales. Each year the Crown Court tries around 8000 cases a year. The Crown Courts trial every case above Assault and Battery. Most court cases you see on the news will be tried in the Crown Courts. The Judges that sit in there are usually Circuit Judges and Recorders, who are part time judges. These will need intense legal training and could have been appointed after being a barrister or solicitor.

The Appeal Courts

The High Court

       Then

The Court of Appeal

       Then

The Supreme Court

These are all appeal courts that those convicted can appeal for a reversal of that charge if they think it was wrong or an injustice. High Court Judges, Appeal Judges and Supreme Court Judges are the most highly ranked Judges.

The Civil Courts

The Civil Courts include the County Courts and the High Court. Here are tried small claims for less that £5000, fast track cases between £5000 and £25000 and multi track cases of over £25000. Also disputes between land, and business partnerships are tried. Family law such as divorces also comes under this court.