The judiciary

English court hierachy

Inferior judges

They sit in courts below the high court. Includes cicuit judges, recorders and district judges.

Circuit judges

They sit in the crown court and county court.

For criminal law: they hear criminal trials (sit with a jury). They decide law and sentence if found guilty. If found not guilty, the judge will let them go.

For civil law: they hear fast track cases between £10,000-£25,000. They preside over the (maximum) one day trial.

Recorder judges

They sit in the crown court. They are part-time practising solicitors and barristers. They hear criminal trials (sit with a jury). They decide law and sentence if found guilty. 

For civil law: involved in pre-trial matters e.g. preparing for trials. They preside over hearings, listening to evidence and applying relevant law to reach decisions.

District judges

They sit in the magistrates’ court and county court. For criminal law: they try criminal cases (they sit alone). They decide facts and law, and decide sentence if found guilty. 

For civil law: they sit in the county court. They hear small- claims track cases up to £10,000. Involved in pre-trial matters e.g. preparing for trials. They preside over hearings, listening to evidence and applying relevant law to reach decisions.

Superior judges

Includes justices of the Supreme Court, senior judges and high court judges.

Justices of the Supreme Court

They sit in the top court in the country (Supreme Court). They hear only appeals on points of law of great importance. Any decision becomes precedent. They must sit as an uneven panel (minimum 3) to hear a case. Usually sit as a panel of 5.

Senior judges

Sit in the court of appeal - the only hear appeals. Usually sit as a panel of 3. Decisions on points of law become precedents which the lower courts must follow.

High court judges

Sit in the crown and high court. For the crown court: they hear criminal trials (sit with a jury). It’s usually only the most serious criminal cases (e.g. murder). They decide law and sentence if guilty.

For high court: they hear criminal appeals (law only) from the Magistrates’ court. They sit in a panel of 2.