the judiciary - topic 5 - paper 1 and 2 Flashcards
what are a group of judges called?
judiciary
what’s the judiciary’s function?
make decisions in respect of disputes
who are the three superior judges?
justices of supreme court
lord justices of appeal
high court judges
who is the head of the judiciary?
lord chief justice
who are the inferior judges and which courts do they sit in?
circuit judges - crown and county court
recorders - crown court and some in the county court
district judges - county court
magistrates - magistrates courts
tribunal judges - magistrates court
what acts of parliament govern what qualifications are required for the different judicial posts?
courts and legal services act 1990
courts and enforcement act 2007
what did the constitutional reform act 2005 establish?
judicial appointments commission which deals with selection of judges
who officially appoints judges?
the queen/ king
what type of cases do judges hear in the supreme court?
appeals in civil or criminal cases
when can a case be appealed to the supreme court?
if a point of law is involved
why must judges in the supreme court sit as an uneven number?
so that if two people disagree there can be a majority
what do the lords justices of appeal do?
hear appeals from criminal and civil cases
how many applications for leave to appeal do the lord justices of appeal hear each year?
7,000
how many of these appeals are successful? how many criminal appeals does the court of appeal hear each year?
1/4 successful
around 1,800
how many civil appeals are heard each year?
3,000
how many judges hear cases in civil courts?
3
what is the main function of high court judges?
to try cases
explain what high court judges do when trying a case
hear evidence from a witness
decide what the law is
decide which side has won the case
when hearing cases of first instance how many high court judges sit and hear the case?
1
what sort of appeals do high court judges hear and how many judges generally hear the appeal?
mainly civil case appeals
1
why might judges from the high court sit in the crown court?
to hear criminal trials and assist the jury
what do circuit judges do?
hear civil cases in the county court
try criminal cases in the crown court
decide law and facts
make the decision of who has won
criminal cases - sit with a jury
when d is found or pleads guilty - decided the sentence
recorders
part time judges
appointed for 5 years
used mainly in the crown court to try criminal cases
some sit in county court for civil cases
district judges
sit in county court
deal with small claims cases (under £10,000)
hear other cases for larger amount
