LibGuides: English Legal Research Guide: Structure of the English Court System

Structure of the English Court System

Until October 2009, the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords served as the highest court of appeal for civil and criminal cases from England and Wales.

House of Lords Judgments
All judgments of the Law Lords since 14 November 1996 to 30 July 2009

In October 2009, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom was established, taking over as the highest court.

Supreme Court Home Page

The Court of Appeal, which includes both civil and criminal divisions, functions solely as an appellate court, meaning it only reviews decisions from lower courts. In contrast, the High Court of Justice and the Crown Court have both original and appellate jurisdiction. They handle serious civil and criminal cases that are beyond the scope of the Magistrate's Courts (criminal) and the County Courts (civil).

Structure of Courts and Tribunals System
Easy to read chart showing the structure of the UK court system (easier to see on a larger screen or reduce the size of the font to see the information as a chart.)
UK Supreme Court's role in the legal systems of England and Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland
Also explains how this court is empowered to handle human rights issues.
Contents:

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The Supreme Court
Significance to the UK
UK judicial system
History
Appellate Committee of The House of Lords
Middlesex Guildhall
The Supreme Court and Europe
Concordat with the Ministry of Justice
The Supreme Court and the United Kingdom’s legal system
Shows the UK Supreme Court's connection to Northern Ireland and Scotland, as well as England and Wales.

For a detailed discussion of the organization and procedure of the courts see:

The English Legal Process by Terence Ingman
Call Number: 4th Stacks ; KD660 .I53 2011

ISBN: 9780199581948

Publication Date: 2010-11-05

The English Legal Process offers a clear and topical explanation of how the English legal system operates. The book explains the organisation and procedures of courts and tribunals, the trial process and jury system, major forms of redress in private and public law, and discusses the way judges make and apply the law. Throughout, examples are drawn from a wide range of cases to help students develop a rounded understanding of the subject. The thirteenth edition incorporates new legislation such as the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 and the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, as well as numerous judgments of the Supreme Court, House of Lords, Court of Appeal, and the High Court. It also covers recent research into legal aid expenditure in England and Wales, and the fairness, efficiency, and effectiveness of juries in criminal cases.