appeals and enforcement Flashcards
why appeals?
Sometimes decisions are wrongly made or judges are bound by precedent
BUT STRICT RULES: because it is in the public’s interest to have final and binding decisions (open-ended appeals system would undermine this by encouraging unsuccessful litigants to have another go)
when is appeal allowed?
lower court’s decision was
- wrong
- unjust
- serious procedural or other irregularity
what is an appeal?
ONLY A REVIEW (not a new hearing/re-hearing)
- manage client expectation
- but there is a re-hearing if PD makes provision for that and if it is in interests of justice
will the court interfere with lower court’s discretion?
NO - RELUCTANT
Only interfere with lower court’s judge’s exercise of discretion if based on:
A misunderstanding of:
- law (error of law)
- evidence, or
- facts before him
fresh evidence allowed in appeal?
NO unless ordered by appeal court
- any decision about fresh evidence must be made in light of OO
Ladd v Marshall
fresh evidence will not be allowed unless:
- could not have been obtained by reasonable diligence for use in lower court
- has important influence on results
- apparently credible
structure of appeals
- you need permission to appeal
- you have 21 days from original decision unless appeal is to SC (but court can order differently)
NB. judgements/orders take effect from the date they were given/made or later date if court specifies (delay in drawing up judgement will not delay time running for purpose of appeal)
WHO HEARS APPEAL - general
next level of judge in court hierarchy
court hierarchy for appeal
- CC District Judge
- County Court Circuit Judge (skip this stage if CC district judge dealt with non-insolvency proceedings brought pursuant to CA 06)
- HC master
- HC judge
- CA
(CAN TRANSFER DIRECTLY TO CA IF:
- appeal raises important point of principle or practice
- there is some other compelling reason for CA to hear it)
permission to appeal?
general: required for all appeals
EXCEPTIONS:
- CPR 52.3(1) (if fall into these, may appeal as of right)
HOW TO APPLY FOR PERMISSION
- ORALLY at lower court at time of decision (judge familiar, no add cost or harm if fails, but hard to work out quickly reason for appeal)
- IN APPELLANT’S NOTICE to be considered by appeal court within time limit in CPR 52.12 (done if oral application fails or no oral app made)
APPELLANT’S NOTICE (CPR 52.3(2)b, (3)
- PAPER APP filed and served
- other docs lodged with it
- usually considered on basis of papers
- served within necessary time period
- contains grounds for appeal
IF APPEAL COURT CA - default position: decide based on papers unless judge considers matter should be dealt with orally
- judge can summon oral hearing
- if cannot ‘fairly determine’ app on paper
- oral hearing listed within 14 days
IF APPEAL IS CC OR HC
- if refuse on paper, appellant can request reconsider at oral hearing
- do it within 7 days of service of notice refusing permission
- if refuse at oral hearing, no appeal possible
TEST FOR GRANTING PERMISSION TO APPEAL
PERMISSION ONLY GRANTED IF COURT CONSIDERS (CPR 52.6):
Appeal would have a real prospect of success
There is some other compelling reason why the appeal should be heard
(Similar to test for summary judgement - swain v hillman, Lord Woolf said ‘real prospect of sucess’ means ‘realistic rather than fanciful’)
Respondent’s notice
- file and served if R wants to seek permission to appeal from appeal court
or
- wishes to ask appeal court to uphold order of lower court for reasons different/additional to those given by lower court
- request permission
- appeal must satisfy same test
3 types of respondent
- wants judgement to be upheld by reasons given (no need to serve RN)
- wants judgemnet upheld for diff/additional reasons (serve RN stating diff/add reason)
- wants to appeal to vary order of lower court (cross-appeal) - must serve RN setting out grounds
time limit for respondent’s notice
as may be directed by lower court
if no direction
- 14 days after date laid down by CPR 52.13(5) which is usually date R is aware appeal is going ahead
EFFECT OF AN APPEAL ON THE JUDGEMENT OF THE LOWER COURT
DOES NOT stay order of lower court
- successful litigant can still enforce their judgement
- appeal operates as a stay if appeal court or lower court orders (not usually) or appeal is from Immigration and Asylum Chamber of the UT
COMPOSITION OF THE COURT - CC
County court circuit judge (usually alone)
COMPOSITION OF THE COURT - HC
High court judge
usually alone
COMPOSITION OF THE COURT - CA
2 lord justices (interim appeal)
3 lord justices (final appeal)
if 2 judge court equally divided, either party can apply for rehearing before 3 judge court