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

• June 4, 2026

  R -v- J, N and E: court transcript of sentencing hearing

• June 4, 2026

  R -v- Peter Corrigan and Chas Corrigan

• June 4, 2026

  AOX -v- Health Secretary and NHS England

• June 4, 2026

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

Latest news

• June 2, 2026

  The Lady Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor modernise the High Court through establishment of the Business and Property Division

  Find out more about the consolidation of the Business and Property Courts into a renamed Business and Property Division

• June 4, 2026

  Concluding remarks of the Master of the Rolls at a London International Dispute Week session

  Sir Geoffrey Vos spoke at the Access to Justice Internationally – Tradition and Transformation – session

• June 4, 2026

  Chief Coroner Guidance No49 – Major Incidents

  Read more about the role of the Chief Coroner and Incident Coroner in handling major incidents

• June 4, 2026

  Jurisdictional guidance for Remote Participation

  Remote Participation guidance for the Civil, Family and Tribunal jurisdictions published

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