Judges - rough guide to the judiciary

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Judges - rough guide to the judiciary

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From 3rd April 2006
Judge	Court	Qualification	JAC role	Appointed by
Lords of Appeal in Ordinary (The Law Lords / Lady) [12]	House of Lords	Supreme court qualification for 15 years or two years high judicial office (until 2008)	None	The Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, who receives advice from the 'Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice'
Heads of Division [5]	Queen's Bench Division/ Family Division/ Chancery Division	Generally appointed from among the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary or Lords Justices of Appeal	Special committee is convened comprising LCJ, the MR and two senior JAC members	The Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, who receives advice from the 'Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice'
The Heads of Divisions are: Lord Chancellor / Lord Chief Justice / Master of the Rolls / President of the QBD / President (Family Division) / Chancellor of the High Court
Lords Justices of Appeal [37]	Court of Appeal	Appointment is usually on promotion from the ranks of experienced High Court Judges	Special committee is convened comprising LCJ, the MR and two senior JAC members	The Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, who receives advice from the 'Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice'
Puisne Judges [112]	High Court	The statutory qualification is a 10 year High Court qualification or to have been a Circuit Judge for at least two years	Puts names forward to 'Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice'	The Queen on the recommendation of the 'Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice', JAC selects
Circuit Judges	County Court and Crown Court	10 year Crown Court County Court qualification	Puts names forward to 'Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice'	The Queen on the recommendation of the 'Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice', JAC selects
Recorders	County Court and Crown Court	10 year Crown Court or County Court qualification	Puts names forward to 'Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice'	The Queen on the recommendation of the' Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice', JAC selects
District Judge	Official of High Court and County Court	Seven year general qualification	Puts names forward to 'Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice'	'Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice', JAC selects
District Judges	Magistrates Court	Seven year general qualification	Puts names forward to 'Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice'	The Queen on the recommendation of the 'Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice', JAC selects

Range of judicial appointments There are some 9,446 judges and tribunal members in England and Wales (as at 1 July 2005).
Type of court	Type of judge	Type of work
High Court	High Court Judges Masters Registrars Deputy Masters Deputy Registrars District Judges/Deputy District Judges who sit in the Family Division or District Registries	The more complex civil and family cases. The High Court is divided in three divisions: Chancery, Queen’s Bench and Family. The High Court is located in London but there are District Registries of the High Court located in various parts of England and Wales
Crown Courts	Circuit Judges Recorders	The more serious criminal cases which are tried before a judge and a jury
County Courts	Circuit Judges Recorders District Judges Deputy District Judge	Civil and Family Cases
Magistrate’s Courts	District Judges (Magistrates’ Courts) Deputy District Judges (Magistrates’ Courts)	Less serious criminal cases, also family cases and many civil cases.
Tribunals	Tribunal Judge (from 2007)	Tribunals vary in size from one to 2,000 members. Tribunals specialise in a particular area and settle many claims and disputes. Some of the larger tribunals are: Finance and Tax Tribunals, Employment Tribunals, Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.
Fee-paid posts A judge must usually serve as a ‘fee-paid’ judge before he or she can be considered for salaried judicial posts. Fee-paid judges sit in the courts or in tribunals on a part-time basis, usually for a minimum of fifteen days a year. For the rest of the time they continue pursuing their usual day to day activities. Salaried appointments Salaried judges work in the courts and are supported by their fee-paid counterparts.
Based on DCA information

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