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 17, 2026

  Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex and London and another -v- Secretary of State for the Home Department

• February 17, 2026

  United Grand Lodge of England and others -v- Metropolitan Police

• February 16, 2026

  AA and others

• February 16, 2026

  CXS -v- KXK (anonymity order)

Latest news

• February 17, 2026

  Practice Direction by the Senior President of Tribunals: Allocation of cases to track in the First-tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber)

  Read the details outlined by Lord Justice Dingemans and see the schedule for the different jurisdictions

• February 17, 2026

  Fine Cell exhibition opens at the Royal Courts of Justice

  A new exhibition showcasing Fine Cell Work is now on display in the Great Hall, at the Royal Courts of Justice

• February 16, 2026

  Have your say on guidance relating to short notice applications in the family courts

  Register for the online webinar on Thursday 26 February, and take part in the consultation, which closes on Monday 13 April at 5pm

• February 6, 2026

  Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales visits Cardiff pupils to discuss the rule of law in society

  The Rt Hon the Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill visited Cathays High School on Wednesday 4 February 2026

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