The judicial legal system in the UK is complicated having evolved over the centuries but essentially it breaks down into three categories. These would be criminal cases which start their journey to justice in the magistrates’ courts. The more serious of these then get sent to Crown court. Anyone losing their case who feels they can appeal will have that sent to the Court of appeal criminal division and if necessary, through to the UK Supreme Court. It takes much time and a lot of money to persue a case this far but many do try.
Civil cases generally start their journey in the County court. Appeals for these go to the High court and then the Court of Appeal but via a different divisdion of those courts.
Then there come the tribunals – these deal with cases and apeals with their decisions arising from different chambers of the Upper Tribunal and Emiployment Tribunals with their own appeals Tribunals but they may also end up in the Court of Appeal as a final shot.
If you look at a chart setting out the ‘family tree’, there is Supreme Court at the top, the next layer being High Court of England & Wales (Scotland has her own judicial system), this is broken down to King’s Bench, Family and Chancery divisions. These are further broken down to Adinistrative/divisional court; Planning court; King’s Bench and then lots of other courts are held within the Business & Property Courts. Each of those would take a page on their own!
