Who are the Judiciary?

• Independence
• Integrity
• Impartiality

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

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

Latest news

• November 23, 2023

  Lecture by the Chief Coroner: Death and Taxes – the past, present and future of the coronial service

  Chief Coroner, HHJ Thomas Teague KC, gave a virtual and in-person lecture on the history and development of the coronial service, and provided insights into its achievements and challenges

• November 20, 2023

  Speech by the Lady Chief Justice: Civil Justice Council’s 12th National Forum

  Lady Carr outlined examples of what she described as the ‘vital and effective’ work of the CJC and Forum

• November 15, 2023

  Update: Youth Defendants in the Crown Court bench book

  This amendment reflects the law as of 1 October 2023 with a few more recent additional items

• November 9, 2023

  Guidance on the Grant of Rights of Audience by the Business and Property Court in Leeds

  Read this guidance note on granting rights of audience in proceedings in the High Court to solicitors who do not have higher rights of audience