The judiciary- types of judge, role of judges in criminal courts

Question 1

Who is the judiciary made up of?

Answer 1

-all the different types of judge
-can have some lawmaking powers depending on where they sit on the heirarchy.

Question 2

Where does each type of judge sit?

Answer 2

1. Superior judges- supreme court, court of appeal, high court
2. Inferior judges- crown court, county court, magistrates court.

Question 3

Which act changed the qualifications needed to become a judge?

Answer 3

-TCEA 2000.
-Solicitors/ barristers can now apply for any position on the courts.

Question 4

What are the 6 different types of judge?

Answer 4

1. Lord justices of the supreme court
2. Lord justices of appeal
3. High court judges
4. Circuit judges
5. Recorder judges
6. District judges in the magistrates or county court.

Question 5

What are the qualifications to be a lord justice of the SC?

Answer 5

-high judicial office for at least 2 years/ solicitor or barrister for 15.

Question 6

What do Lord justices of the supreme court do?

Answer 6

1. hear around 70 cases per year on point of law.
2. usually, a panel of 5 but in times of importance 7.
3. bind all lower courts.

Question 7

What are the qualifications for a lord justice of appeal?

Answer 7

-S/B for 7 years + appointed from high court judges.

Question 8

What do Lord justices of appeal do?

Answer 8

1. 37 of them who either sit on criminal/civil divisions.
2. Criminal permission hears 7k applications to appeal- only ¼ are granted +civil hears 3,000 cases on liability or remedy.
3. sit in a panel of 3 but 5 for important.
4. High workload so sometimes high court judges sit with them.

Question 9

What qualifications are needed to be a high court judge?

Answer 9

-Solicitor or barrister for 7 years or a circuit judge for 2.

Question 10

What does a high court judge do?

Answer 10

1. 72 in KBD, 17 in chancery + 18 in family division.
2. deal with cases at first instance, hear cases + decide on remedy.
3. Appeals mainly crown court but sometimes magistrates.
4. Sometimes sit in crown court if - very serious offence. I.e murder.

Question 11

What qualifications are needed to be a circuit judge?

Answer 11

solicitor or barrister for 7 years, or be a recorder, or a district judge for 3 years

Question 12

What do circuit judges do?

Answer 12

-sit in the county and crown courts, decide the law on facts of case and in crown court the jury decide.

Question 13

What qualifications are needed to be a recorder judge?

Answer 13

• solicitor or barrister for 7 years.

Question 14

What do recorder judges do?

Answer 14

-part-time
-sit for a period of 5 years usually in crown court.

Question 15

What qualifications are needed to be a district judge in a county or magistrates court?

Answer 15

-Must have been a solicitor/ barrister for 5 years.

Question 16

What do district judges in the county or magistrates court do?

Answer 16

1. county court usually to deal with small claims
2. can also sit in the magistrate’s court to hear criminal cases.
3. can pass sentences on guilty defendants.