Legal Systems: Judiciary

Question 1

What is the order of hierarchy of the judiciary?

Answer 1

1. Lord Chief Justice
2. Master of the Rolls
3. Justices of the Supreme Court
4. President of the KBD (High Court), President of the Family Division (High Court), Chancellor of the High Court (Chancery Division)
5. Lord Justices of Appeal
6. High Court Judges
7. Circuit Judges and Recorders
8. District Judges (inc. MC)
9. Magistrates

Question 2

What is the Lord Chief Justice

Answer 2

The head of the judiciary (prev held by Lord Chancellor) and the senior judge in England and Wales.
President of all the courts, but also Head of Criminal Justice.

Question 3

Who is the master of the rolls?

Answer 3

Head of Civil Justice

Question 4

Where do Circuit Judges and Recorders usually sit?

Answer 4

County Court, Family Court or Crown Court centres of a particular circuit.

Question 5

Where do District judges sit?

Answer 5

County Court
Family Court
Complex cases Magistrates’ courts

Question 6

What is the Judicial Appointments Commission?

Answer 6

an independent body that selects
candidates for judicial office

Question 7

Who is the Lord Chancellor?

Answer 7

Secretary of State for Justice (a politician)
has a dialogue with the Lord Chief Justice

Question 8

What is another name for magistrates

Answer 8

Justices of the peace (JPs)

Question 9

What are there 6 essential qualities for magistrates?

Answer 9

1. good character
2. understanding and communication
3. social awareness
4. maturity and sound temperament
5. sound judgment
6. commitment and reliability

Question 10

Who are legal advisers in the magistrates court and what is their role?

Answer 10

Qualified lawyers advising magistrates on interpretation of the law NOT if to find a D innocent/guilty

Question 11

What are magistrates sentencing powers

Answer 11

Max 6mo for single offence
max 12 mo total
unlimited fine

Question 12

What is the qualification needed to be a district judge?

Answer 12

5y appropriate professional legal experience
Will typically have served as a deputy district judge for at least 30 days

Question 13

What is a recorder?

Answer 13

most junior level of circuit judge

Question 14

Who is the most junior member of the judiciary in the civil system?

Answer 14

District judges

Question 15

What tasks are done by district judges?

Answer 15

CMC
Pre trial reviews
hearing interim applications
undergoing training;
reading court papers in preparation for applications and hearings
considering cost implications of litigation
occasional emergency apps involving children, or seizure of property by bailiffs

Question 16

What is a master?

Answer 16

The name for a district judge in the Royal Courts of Justice

Question 17

What is the most senior county court judge

Answer 17

circuit judge

Question 18

Who are County court judges assisted by?

Answer 18

Fee paid judges and the more senior district judges

Question 19

What is the primary role of county court judges

Answer 19

preside over trials

Question 20

Who are the personnel of the High Court?

Answer 20

Five Heads of Division (including Lord Chief Justice)
Senior presiding judge
Vice-president of KB

Question 21

Who are the personal of the CoA (Civ Division)

Answer 21

Lord and Lady Justices of Appeal
Five Heads of Division
High Court judges from time to time

Question 22

What does ‘senior judiciary’ refer to?

Answer 22

Supreme Court Justices and Chief Justices of the Court of Appeal

Question 23

Other names for Supreme Court justices?

Answer 23

Lords of Appeal in Ordinary
Law Lords

Question 24

Requirements to be appointed judge of the Supreme Court

Answer 24

Must have held high judicial office for a period of at least two years,
having been a qualifying practitioner for a period of at least 15 years
Recommendations for office should come from the Prime Minister.
Selection process by a commission including at least one person who is not legally qualified

Question 25

Who are arbitrators

Answer 25

traditionally they are business
people rather than lawyers

Question 26

Who are mediators?

Answer 26

People with experience in the commercial world

Question 27

Who are tribunal members?

Answer 27

either legally qualified tribunal judges or specialist non- legal members who
have experience and expertise from the field of the tribunal subject matter.

Question 28

Who deals with disciplinary matters

Answer 28

Lord Chief Justice, the Lord Chancellor, and the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO)

Question 29

What political figures have a role in the law?

Answer 29

Secretary of State for Justice: cabinet member who runs the MoJ, doesn’t have to have a legal background
Attorney General: chief law officer to the Government, responsible for CPS, Serious Fraud Office, GDL
Solicitor General: Attorney General’s deputy