Court of Appeal, Criminal Division annual report 2024/25
A Review of the Year in the Court of Appeal, Criminal Division has been published.
This annual report gives an overview of the work in the court between October 2024 and September 2025.
Lord Justice Edis said in his foreword to the report that he was honoured to take up the position of Vice-President of the Court of Appeal, Criminal Division, in October 2025.
He said: “During the short time I have been in post, I have been very impressed by the work of court users, advocates and the judiciary in their preparation, presentation and determination of the cases which come before the court. It is a privilege to be in post, and I thank my predecessor Lord Justice Holroyde for his leadership, focus and good humour.
“I also wish to pay particular tribute to the late Lord Justice William Davis who was held in the highest regard by everyone who had the pleasure of working with him. He will be missed greatly.
“It has been another busy year for the court including many high-profile cases and novel points of law. Although there has been a slight decrease in the number of applications received by the court this year, there is no doubt that the cases are becoming increasingly complex. A rise in the number of Attorney General references of unduly lenient sentences and applications for leave to appeal against conviction and sentence from litigants in person has increased the pressure on the court, resulting in longer waiting times particularly in the number of applications awaiting allocation to a single judge. One of my first tasks is looking at what can be done to address waiting times, and I wish to thank the judiciary, in particular the judges sitting in retirement, for their assistance in this regard.
“I am grateful for the support of the Registrar and all the staff in the Criminal Appeal Office. Their diligence and hard work ensures that cases move smoothly through the appellate system, issues are identified at an early stage in the proceedings and court users receive a high quality service. I am pleased to see that the Criminal Appeal Office is continuing its outreach work as well as providing placements to a number of HMCTS legal apprentices.
“In my role as Vice-President, I am committed to addressing the demands currently faced by the court, whilst ensuring that the integrity of the criminal justice system is maintained. There are many challenges; but I look forward to the year ahead.”