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

• May 29, 2026

  R -v- Samuel Field

• May 22, 2026

  Judgment on reporting restrictions: Home Secretary -v- Huda Ammori

• May 22, 2026

  KWB -v- Secretary of State for the Home Department (anonymity order)

• May 22, 2026

  Meta Platforms Inc -v- Ofcom

Latest news

• May 28, 2026

  Judicial College Prospectus 2026 to 2027 and Judicial education in domestic abuse summary published

  The Judicial College Prospectus, and the Judicial education in domestic abuse summary for 2026 to 2027 have been published

• May 28, 2026

  Judicial College Prospectus 2026 to 2027 and Judicial education in domestic abuse summary

  See the Judicial College Prospectus 2026 to 2027, and the Judicial education in domestic abuse summary

• May 22, 2026

  Lady Chief Justice to co-chair new Judicial and Legal Diversity Board

  Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill will co-chair the board, alongside the Lord Chancellor, in a continued commitment to improving diversity within the judiciary

• May 21, 2026

  Update from Mr Justice Peel, Judge in Charge of the Standard Orders

  Read the amendment to Order 10.2 (short form non-molestation order) as part of the Standard Orders

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