Courts of the United Kingdom

The UK is a United Kingdom, but does not have a united Court system. The separate former kingdoms still have separate legal systems and there is no 'Federal law' as there is in other unified countries such as Germany, Switzerland, Spain or the USA. However, EC law applies to them all.

The former Kingdom of England (and Wales, which is a principality) have one law (although following devolution the Welsh Assembly is able to pass its own legislation on some matters).

The former Kingdom of Scotland has a separate system.

Northern Ireland has a separate legal system.

In addition, other areas commonly (and wrongly) thought of as being part of the UK such as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man have their own Parliaments and legal traditions.

ENGLAND AND WALES

For criminal law the lowest court (which deals with the majority of cases) is the Magistrates Court (England) (note that the 'England' section is not part of its title, but simply insterted here to allow linking).

Above this is the Crown Court, and above this the Criminal Division of the High Court of England and Wales. Above the High Court is the Court of Appeal of England and Wales (Criminal Division) and above them, the highest court in the land, the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords.

For general civil matters the general courts are the County Court, and above these the High Court of England and Wales (Civil Division). Above the High Court lies the Court of Appeal of England and Wales (Civil Division) and the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords.

In addition, there are other courts and tribunals. The tribunals sit in judgement over a number of specialist areas, and frequently have appeals tribunals above them. For example, the Employment Tribunals (appeals to Employment Appeals Tribunal), Immigration Tribunals (appeals to Immigration Appeals Tribunal), VAT Tribunals, Land Tribunals etc. etc.

The appeals tribunals (or the tribunal itself if there is no appeal appeals tribunal) are all junior to the the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of England and Wales which has general authority over all lesser courts.

Two other courts still sit fequently:

Coroners Courts - The post of Coroner is ancient, dating from the 11th Century, and coroners still sit today.

Ecclesiastical Courts - The Church of England is an established church (i.e. it is a state religion) and formerly had power over matters such as marriage and divorce law, wills etc. Now the Ecclesiastical courts deal with church property and errant clergy.

SCOTLAND, NORTHERN IRELAND

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