The Judiciary

Question 1

The role

Answer 1

• their role is to make decisions in a fair, unbiased way, applying the law and the legal rules of England/Wales
• judges are either barristers/solicitors (since recently Chartered Legal Executives), our judges are chosen from among practitioners and don’t have a trained career path

Question 2

two types of judges

Answer 2

Inferior judges - judges below those that serve in the High Court
Superior judges - all judges who serve in the High Court and above

Question 3

Inferior judges

Answer 3

• district judges
• assistant recorders/recorders
• circuit judges

Question 4

Superior judges

Answer 4

• high court judges
• lord justices of appeal
• supreme court justices

Question 5

District judges

Answer 5

• vast majority are solicitors (at least 5yrs experience)
• sit in the county court, dealing with civil cases
• Woolf reforms resulted in more District Judges being appointed

Question 6

Assistant Recorders and Recorders

Answer 6

• part time judges who sit in the CrC for 20 days in the yr
• must be qualified as a barrister, solicitor or legal exec for at least 7 yrs
• appointment is for 5 yrs

Question 7

Circuit Judges

Answer 7

• sit in CC or CrC
  at least 7 yrs of audience experience or have been a Recorder
  legal execs cant serve as judges at this level

Question 8

High Court Judges

Answer 8

advocates of at least 7 yrs experience within the HC or been a circuit judge for at least 2 yrs
- they are then knighted on appointment

Question 9

Lord Justices of Appeal

Answer 9

• sit in the Court of Appeal and Divisional Court
  usually appointed from among High Court Judges, but can be appointed from among practitioners with 7 yrs HC experience