Judges and judicial independence Flashcards
What is the role of a Lord Justice of the Supreme Court?
Hears around 70 criminal or civil cases a year. Only hears cases on points of law of general public importance. Sit on panels of uneven numbers. Their decision binds all the courts below them.
What is the role of Lord Justices of appeal?
There are 37 of them and can sit in both the civil and criminal divisions. Hears around 7,000 applications for leave and 3,000 civil appeals against liability or the remedy awarded. Sit in panels of 3 or 5.
What is the role of a high court judge?
Assigned to a division - 72 in the KBD, 17 in the chancery division and 18 in the family division. Main role = trying cases at first instance, they hear evidence, decide the law and the winner. Can also hear some appeals mainly from county court and the KBD hear appeals on point of law from the magistrates court. KBD judges can sit in the crown court for serious criminal cases.
What is the role of a circuit judge?
Sit in county and crown court. In county they decide the law, facts and verdict. In crown they decide the law and verdict.
What is the role of a recorder?
A part time judge who is appointed for a period of 5 years and mainly sit in the crown court.
What is the role of a district judge?
Mainly sit in county court to hear small claims cases. Can sit in the magistrates court instead of a panel of magistrates and decide the facts, law and the sentence.
what is judicial independence?
Judges are separate from parliament and cannot be fired from them. They don’t take part in law making, Their salaries are protected.
