Tribunals

What are tribunals?

Specialist judicial bodies dealing with administrative/regulatory disputes (not criminal cases).

Tribunal jurisdiction

Cases may start in a tribunal or be transferred between tribunals, the County Court and the High Court.

Tribunal structure

2 levels – First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal.

First-tier Tribunal (FTT)

Hears appeals against decisions made by government departments and agencies.

Upper Tribunal (UT)

Senior court equivalent to the High Court that hears appeals from the FTT.

Private law tribunals

Property Chamber and Employment Tribunal.

7 FTT chambers

War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Chamber, Social Entitlement Chamber, Health, Education and Social Care Chamber, General Regulatory Chamber, Tax Chamber, Immigration and Asylum Chamber, Property Chamber

Upper Tribunal role

Hears appeals from the First-tier Tribunal.

Administrative Appeals Chamber (UT)

Hears appeals from War Pensions, Social Entitlement, Health/Education/Social Care and General Regulatory Chambers.

Tax & Chancery Chamber (UT)

Hears appeals from the Tax Chamber.

Immigration & Asylum Chamber (UT)

Hears appeals from the FTT Immigration & Asylum Chamber.

Lands Chamber (UT)

Hears appeals from the Property Chamber.

Employment Appeal Tribunal

Hears Employment Tribunal appeals and sits separately from the Upper Tribunal.

Senior President of Tribunals

Independent statutory head of the tribunal judiciary.

Tribunal/Chamber President

Manages the day-to-day judicial administration of a tribunal/chamber.

Tribunal Judge

Legally qualified decision-maker responsible for determining tribunal cases.

Tribunal member

Specialist lay (non-legally qualified) panel member; not every panel includes one.

Coroner's Court purpose

Investigates deaths where the cause is unknown or suspected to be unnatural.

Coroner's investigation

Called an inquest.

Coroner's Court procedure

Less formal than court proceedings; may involve lawyers and sometimes a jury.

Coroner's decision

Called a verdict.

Are coroners part of the judiciary?

No.

Public inquiry

Major investigation set up by the government into matters of public concern.

Purpose of a public inquiry

Investigate significant public events or issues.

Public inquiry powers

Can compel witnesses to give evidence and produce documents.

Inquiries Act framework

Provides legal procedures, appointment of the chair, evidence-taking and publication of a report with recommendations.

Must the government follow a statutory public inquiry's recommendations?

No. Recommendations are not legally binding.