11.1 - Supreme Court Flashcards
When was the Supreme court established?
2009
Why was the supreme court established?
- 2005 constitutional reform act
- Seperation of powers
Define:
Judicial Neutrality?
Judges should not be influenced by parties, or their own politics.
Define:
Judicial Independence?
Judges cannot be influenced by other branches of government
What is a judicial review?
A court proceeding where the supreme court reviews the legality of another government departments decision.
How is judicial independence achieved?
- Cannot be removed unless they break the law
- Retirement age of 70
- Immunity from comments made in court
- Salaries paid automatically from a ‘consolidated fund’
- Appointed apolitically
What is the role of supreme court judges?
- Interpret the HRA
- Uphold the law
- Rule against government decisions
How many judges are there in the supreme court?
12
Define:
Judiciary Review?
The power for the SupremeCoourt to review the actions of government departments that breach the law or HRA.
Why is the Supreme Court seen as unrepresentative?
- Well educated
- Old
- Male
- White
3 Examples of the power of the Supreme Court?
- 2018 - declaration of incompatability - civil partnerships
- 2015 - FOI - Prince Charles’ letters
- 2010 - Ultra vires - Chris Grayling - Residence test
Name:
The principles of the supreme court
- Judicial independence
- Judicial neutrality
Define:
Judicial independence
Judges are free from external political pressure
How is judicial independence achieved?
- Seperation of powers
- Judges are not appointed by the PM
- Judges are paid a set salary
- Judges can not be fired - security of tenure
- Judges cannot be punished based off rulings
- MPs are not allowed to comment on currently occuring SC cases
How does judicial independence fail?
- Decisions on appointments to SC made by the executive
- They do not often rule against the government
- Lord Chancellor has the final say on appointing judges