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

• July 7, 2026

  Lawrence and others -v- Associated Newspapers Limited

• July 9, 2026

  Gatwick Airport Limited -v- Secretary of State for Transport

• July 9, 2026

  R -v- Hauser and Wirth Gallery Limited and another

• July 9, 2026

  NGT -v- Cambridgeshire County Council (anonymity order)

Latest news

• July 9, 2026

  Sir Colin Birss appointed Master of the Rolls

  His Majesty King Charles III has been pleased to approve the appointment of Sir Colin Birss as the Master of the Rolls

• July 9, 2026

  Lord Justice Warby appointed President of the King’s Bench Division

  His Majesty King Charles III has been pleased to approve the appointment of The Rt Hon Lord Justice Warby as the President of the King’s Bench Division

• July 8, 2026

  Joint statement from the LCJ, SPT and Bar Council: Tackling bullying, harassment and discrimination

  Read the joint statement between the Lady Chief Justice, the Senior President of Tribunals and the Bar Council on tackling bullying, harassment and discrimination

• July 6, 2026

  New Practice Direction on Listing will support criminal courts to prioritise cases and reduce backlogs

  The new framework is intended to ensure that cases are prioritised with proper regard to the human impact of delay

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