judges

• Role of judges in civil courts


  • Resolve disputes in a fair, unbiased way, applying the law
• Civil Courts of First Instance


  1. County Court

  2. High Court

  3. Sit on their own to deal with all aspects of case

  4. Responsible for pre-trial matters
• Trial


  1. Hear evidence from all witnesses

  2. Listen to legal arguments

  3. Look at any relevant case papers

  4. Decide facts and application of law

  5. Decide who won the case, damages and remedy
• Appeal Court Judges


  1. Court of Appeal (Civil Division)

  2. Supreme Court

  3. Do not hear evidence from witnesses

  4. Decide if the decision made at the trial should stand or whether the appeal should be allowed
• Any decision the Supreme Court makes on a point of law will become a precedent for all lower courts to follow
• Role of judges in criminal courts


  • Oversee the case and ensure that correct procedures are followed
  • Rule on points of law that arise
  • Direct the jury on the law and evidence
  • If defendant is found guilty, impose a sentence
• Magistrates' Court


  1. District Judge can sit on their own

  2. Same sentencing powers as lay magistrates
• Crown Court


  1. 3 Judges

  2. Sit with a jury when defendant pleads not guilty to an either-way offence or indictable offence
• Convicted defendant


  Can appeal to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) against sentence and/ or conviction
• Further appeal


  1. Against decision of Court of Appeal can be taken to Supreme Court (5 Justices)

  2. Only if leave is granted because there is an issue of general public importance to be decided

  3. Court can agree or overrule the decision of the Court of Appeal

  4. No decision on sentence