Judiciary

• Which act changed the eligibility criteria for judges

  Tribunal, Court and Enforcement Act 2007
• Areas changed by the Tribunal, Court and Enforcement Act 2007


  Pool of applicants, experience, term
• Pool of applicants


  Pre-2007, only solicitors and barristers could become judges.

  Post-2007, pool widened to allow any qualifying legal experience.
• Experience


  Need at least 5 years of legal experience. E.g. teacher of law, legal exec, legal advisor etc.
• Term


  Inferior - at least 5 years of experience

  Superior - at least 15 years of experience
• Superior judge types


  Justices of the Supreme Court, Justices of the Appeals Court, High Court Judge.
• Inferior judge types


  District Judge, Recorder, Circuit Judges
• Justices of the Supreme Court

  12 of them

  15+ years of work experience
• Justices of the Appeal Court

  7+ years of experience

  36 overall

  Most are men, 9 are women
• High Court Judges


  7+ years of experience
• District Judges


  5 years of experience
• Recorder


  Part time judges

  Mainly work in the crown court

  Up to 5 years experience
• Circuit Judges


  Civil matters typically
• Judges in - Supreme Court

  Justices of the supreme court
• Judges in - Court of Appeal


  Justices of Appeal
• Judges in - High Court

  High Court Judges
• Judges in - Crown Court


  Part time recorders/ circuit judges
• Judges in - County Court

  District judges, part time recorders, and circuit judges
• Judges in - Magistrates Court

  District judges
• Role of judges in - supreme court (area of law)

  Civil and criminal cases both heard on appeal
• Role of judges in - supreme court (purpose of appeal)

  Decide cases on a point of law of public importance

  If change of law is required
• Role of judges in - court of appeal (areas of law)

  Criminal and civil divisions
• Role of judges in - court of appeal (judges sit as a)

  three
• Role of judges in - court of appeal (purpose of appeal)

  sentence or verdict disputed.
• Role of judges in - High Court (areas of law)


  Typically civil appeals
• Role of judges in - High Court (process)


  Judges listen to trial and decide verdict
• Role of judges in - High Court (specialist judges)


  Specialist judges for fines over £100,000
• Role of judges in - Crown Court (offences)


  Indictable and TEW offences
• Role of judges in - Crown Court (how many are there)


  92
• Role of judges in - Crown Court (verdict decided by)


  Jury (12 members of the public
• Role of judges in - Crown Court (if complex, who decides and why)


  Judge due to the complexity as jury may misunderstand the facts and severity of the case.
• Role of judges in - Crown Court (sentencing done by)


  Judge
• Role of judges in - County Court (area of law)


  Civil cases
• Role of judges in - County Court (process)


  Decide if liable and give compensation
• Role of judges in - Magistrates Court (offences)


  Summary and some TEW
• Role of judges in - Magistrates Court (process)

  Decide the verdict and set the sentence
• Separation of powers - Government


  Executive, make laws in parliament
• Separation of powers - Parliament

  Laws are made in the house of commons, Lords present laws to peers.
• Separation of powers - judges

  Interpreting law, case law
• Judicial independence

  Must be independent from the other two arms of state to ensure fair and impartial justice