Types Of Civil Judges And Their Roles

Question 1

What are the main courts civil judges work in?

Answer 1

• County court
• High Court

Question 2

Which civil judges are inferior judges?

Answer 2

• District judges
• Circuit judges

Question 3

District judges

Answer 3

• Sit in county courts
• Handle small claims cases and some fast track cases.
• Work alone deciding liability and remedy.
• Deal with case management e.g. timetables.

Question 4

Circuit judges

Answer 4

• Sit in county courts.
• Handle more serious fast-track and multi-track cases.
• Work alone deciding fact and law.
• Can hear some appeals from district judges.

Question 5

Which civil judges are superior judges?

Answer 5

• High Court Judge.
• Lord Justice of Appeal.
• Justices in the Supreme Court

Question 6

High court judges

Answer 6

• Sit in High Court.
• Deal with multi-track cases.
• Work alone but can sit in panels for appeals.
• Can hear appeals from county court.

Question 7

Lord justices of appeal

Answer 7

• Sit in Court Of Appeal (civil division)
• Hear appeals from High court and county court
• Usually sit in panel of 3.
• Deal with issues on law rather than fact.

Question 8

Justices in Supreme Court

Answer 8

• Sit in Supreme Court.
• Hear final appeals on points of public importance.
• Usually sit in panels of 5 or more.
• Set binding precedents for lower courts.

Question 9

5 roles of civil judges

Answer 9

1. Case management
2. Hearing evidence and applying law
3. Making decisions
4. Giving judgments
5. Appeals and precedent

Question 10

Case management

Answer 10

• Ensure cases proceed efficiently.
• Control pre-trial procedures.
• Encourage alternate dispute resolution.

Question 11

Hearing evidence and applying law

Answer 11

• Listen to witness statements and legal arguments.
• Apply relevant statutes and case law.

Question 12

Making decisions

Answer 12

• District and circuit judges decide liability and remedy.
• High court and court of appeal focus on points of law.
• Supreme Court make binding precedents.

Question 13

Giving judgments

Answer 13

• Explain reasoning behind decisions.
• May give oral/ written judgments.

Question 14

Appeals and precedent

Answer 14

• Appeal judges review previous decisions.
• Can overturn/ uphold lower court rulings.
• May establish new legal principles.