Judiciary

Question 1

Superior judges:

Answer 1

In the Supreme Court
The justices of the Supreme Court
The lord justices of appeal in the court of appeal
High court judges

Question 2

Inferior judges:

Answer 2

Circuit judges (sit in crown court + county court)
Recorders (part time - sits in crown court + county court)
District judges (county court)
District judges (magistrates court)
Tribunal judges

Question 3

Qualifications:

Answer 3

Set out in the courts and legal services act 1990 as amended by the tribunals, courts and enforcement act 2007
Qualifications based on legal qualifications plus relevant legal experience for a number of years

Question 4

Selection:

Answer 4

Selected by the lord chancellor
Fill in an application form and nominate 3-6 referees
Do an online qualifying test they will then short list you before being interviewed (the interview may involve role play or a discussion).

Question 5

Appointment:

Answer 5

Once the candidate has been selected the appointment is made by the queen. This keeps the selection and appointment separate from the government.

Question 6

Training:

Answer 6

There’s a judicial college run by the judicial studies board. Although they focus they’re training on judges lower on the scale.

Question 7

What does the training consist of?

Answer 7

Substance law (evidence + procedure), accquisitation + improvement of judicial skills, social context within which judging occurs

Question 8

Role: (justices of the Supreme Court):

Answer 8

Hear 100 appeal cases a year 
Civil cases (complicated + technical planning/tax law

Question 9

Role: (lord justices of appeal):

Answer 9

Concerned with appeals.

Deal with both civil and criminal cases

Question 10

Role (high court judges):

Answer 10

To try cases (cases at first instance)

Question 11

Role (inferior judges):

Answer 11

Circuit (county court)

Civil cases

Question 12

Role (recorders):

Answer 12

Part-time

Question 13

Role (district judges):

Answer 13

County court

Small claims cases

Question 14

Retirement:

Answer 14

Judicial pensions and retirement act 1993, all judges retire at 70.
Before act high court judges and above remaining until 75
Lord chancellor may authorise part time until 75

Question 15

Removal:

Answer 15

Superior judges have security of tenure (LC), senior
Courts act 1981 (high court judges + lord justices of appeal)
Constitution reform act 2005 (justices of the Supreme Court)