Who are the Judiciary?

• Independence
• Impartiality
• Integrity

The judiciary is made up of judges, magistrates, tribunal members, and coroners.

Together, they uphold the rule of law.

Judges and other members of the judiciary oversee cases, in different types of courts and tribunals and in different areas of law across the country.

Find out more

Latest judgments

• February 5, 2026

  R -v- Vladimir Motin

• February 3, 2026

  The London Borough of Camden -v- Morgan

• January 30, 2026

  Trafigura -v- Gupta and others

• January 30, 2026

  R -v- Joshua Michals

Latest news

• February 5, 2026

  Lady Chief Justice gives evidence to Welsh Parliament

  For the first time, the Lady Chief Justice has appeared before the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee of the Senedd in Cardiff

• February 5, 2026

  Speech by The Master of the Rolls: Justice for all, justice for the accused

  Read the speech that Sir Geoffrey Vos gave at the Old Bailey in London

• February 3, 2026

  Mr Justice Saini

  Read the biography of Mr Justice Saini

• January 22, 2026

  Financial Remedies – further extension of Transparency Pilot

  Please read this latest update on the pilot scheme from Mr Justice Peel and His Honour Judge Hess

Find out more

Business and Property Courts

Specialist courts which decide business, commercial, property and other chancery disputes and technology and construction disputes, both domestic and international.

Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal deals exclusively with people challenging the decisions made by other courts or tribunals. It has two divisions, Criminal and Civil (the latter also hears family appeals).

High Court

The High Court hears the most serious administrative, civil and family cases. It has three divisions – King’s Bench, Family and Chancery.

Tribunals

The Tribunals are specialist judicial bodies whose judges and members hear a wide range of cases, such as tax, employment, and immigration and asylum. The Upper Tribunal and Employment Appeal Tribunal hear appeals challenging some tribunal decisions.

See more courts and tribunals

Magistrates’ courts

Magistrates, or Justices of the Peace as they are also known, are trained, volunteer members of the local community who make decisions in criminal and family cases in Magistrates’ courts and the Family Court. The most complex cases in Magistrates’ courts are heard by District Judges who are legally qualified specialists.

Coroners’ courts

Coroners investigate certain deaths which are deemed to be unnatural, violent, or where the cause is unknown.

Popular links

Family Justice Council

Civil Justice Council

Appointments and retirements

Court of Appeal live hearings