Judiciary of England and Wales
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
Law of England and Wales |
|
Administration |
|
Civil courts |
|
Criminal courts |
|
Criminal justice |
|
Barristers and solicitors |
There are various levels of judiciary in England and Wales — different types of courts have different styles of judges. They also form a strict hierarchy of importance, in line with the order of the courts in which they sit, so that judges of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales are generally given more weight than district judges sitting in County Courts and Magistrates.
The following is a list of the various types of judges who sit in the Courts of England and Wales:
Contents |
[edit] Heads of Division
There are four Heads of Divisions — the Lord Chief Justice, the Master of the Rolls, the President of the Family Division and the Chancellor of the High Court. Each of these judges is entitled to be addressed as the Right Honourable, for example the Right Honourable Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.
[edit] Lords of Appeal in Ordinary
Judges of the House of Lords are known as Lords of Appeal, they are also Privy Counsellors i.e. they sit on Privy Council of the United Kingdom. They are also addressed as the Right Honourable e.g. The Right Honourable Lord Smith, unless they rank in peerage higher than a Baron, in which case Lord would be replace by their title. However, Dukes would be known simply as Duke.
[edit] Court of Appeal
Judges of the Court of Appeal are known as Lords Justice, and they too are Privy Counsellors. Before swearing in they may be addressed as The Honourable Lord Justice Smith, and after swearing in as the Right Honourable Lord Justice Smith. Female Lord Justices are only known as Lady Justices informally. Addressed as "My Lord" or "My Lady".
See also the list of Lords Justice of Appeal.
[edit] High Court
High Court judges are not normally Privy Counsellors, and are only known as the Right Honourable if they are. High Court judges are therefore referred to as the (Right) Honourable Mr/Mrs Justice Smith. Addressed as "My Lord" or "My Lady".
[edit] Circuit Judges
Unlike the more important judges, Circuit Judges are referred to as His/Her Honour Judge {surname} e.g. His/Her Honour Judge Smith. If a circuit judge is appointed who has the same surname as another serving circuit judge, they will be referred to as His/Her Honour Judge {first name} {surname}. e/g His Honour Judge John Smith. Addressed as "Your Honour", unless they are sitting in the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey), in which case they are addressed as "My Lord / Lady".
[edit] Recorders
Part-time circuit judges, usually a practising barrister or solicitor. Addressed as 'Your Honour' in Court and referred to as 'Mr/Mrs Recorder Smith'.
[edit] Masters and Registrars
A Master is a level of judge in the High Court lower than that of a High Court judge. They are mainly responsible for case management pre-trial, and cases are then heard at trial by a full High Court judge. Masters (who may be male or female) are addressed simply as Master, and Registrars as Registrar. Each of the divisions has a senior Master who ranks above the other Masters, and each division has a different title. They are:
- Queen's Bench Division - Senior Master
- Chancery Division - Chief Chancery Master
- Costs Office - Senior Costs Judge
- Bankruptcy Court - Chief Bankruptcy Registrar
- Admiralty Court - Admiralty Registrar
The Senior Master of the Queen's Bench Division also holds the ancient judicial post of King's Remembrancer (Queen's Remembrancer when the monarch is female), and is also the Registrar of Election petitions and Foreign judgments as well as being the designated authority for the Hague Service Convention and Hague Evidence Convention and receiving agency under Council Regulation (EC) No. 1348/2000 and Council Regulation (EC) No. 1206/2001.
[edit] District Judges
District Judges are the judges who sit in either a County Court or a Magistrates' Court; the latter were formerly known as Stipendiary Magistrates until the Access to Justice Act 1999, and are formally known as "District Judge (Magistrates' Courts)" (see the Courts Act 2003). Addressed as "Sir" or "Madam".
[edit] Deputy District Judges
A practising solicitor or barrister who sits part-time as a District Judge. Addressed as "Sir" or "Madam".
[edit] Magistrates
Laymen drawn from the community who generally sit in threes in order to give judgment in Magistrates' Courts and Youth Courts. Addressed as "Sir" or "Madam" but often addressed as 'Your Worships' by the police and some lawyers.
[edit] See also
[edit] Reference
- Forms of Address - Crown Office of the House of Lords, November 2000
