Supreme Court (formerly the House of Lords) In 2009 the Supreme Court replaced the House of Lords as the highest court in England, Wales
and Northern Ireland. As with the House of Lords, the Supreme Court hears appeals from the Court of
Appeal and the High Court (only in exceptional circumstances). Appeals are normally heard by 5
Justices, but there can be as many as 9.
High Court The High Court consists of 3 divisions, the Chancery Division, the Family Division, and the
Queen’s Bench Division. Decisions of the High Court may be appealed to the Civil Division of the
Court of Appeal.
Chancery Division The Companies Court of the Chancery Division deals with cases concerning commercial fraud,
business disputes, insolvency, company management, and disqualification of directors.
The Divisional Court of the Chancery Division deals with cases concerning equity, trusts,
contentious probate, tax partnerships, bankruptcy and land.
The Patents Court of the Chancery Division deals with cases concerning intellectual property,
copyright, patents and trademarks, including passing off.
Family Division The Divisional Court of the Family Division deals with all matrimonial matters, including
custody of children, parentage, adoption, family homes, domestic violence, separation, annulment,
divorce and medical treatment declarations, and with uncontested probate matters.
Queen’s Bench Division The Administrative Court of the Queen’s Bench Division hears judicial reviews, statutory
appeals and application, application for habeas corpus, and applications under the Drug Trafficking
Act 1984 and the Criminal Justice Act 1988. It also oversees the legality of decisions and actions of
inferior courts and tribunals, local authorities, Ministers of the Crown, and other public bodies and
officials.
The Admiralty Court of the Queen’s Bench Division deals with shipping and maritime
disputes, including collisions, salvage, carriage of cargo, limitation, and mortgage disputes. The Court
can arrest vessels and cargoes and sell them within the jurisdiction of England and Wales.
The Commercial Court of the Queen’s Bench Division deals with cases arising from national
and international business disputes, including international trade, banking, commodities, and
arbitration disputes.
The Mercantile Court of the Queen’s Bench Division deals with national and international
business disputes that involve claims of lesser value and complexity than those heard by the
Commercial Court.
The Technology and Construction Court of the Queen’s Bench Division is a specialist court
that deals principally with technology and construction disputes that involve issues or questions which
are technically complex, and with cases where a trial by a specialist TCC judge is desirable.
Crown Court The Crown Court deals with indictable offences, i.e. serious criminal offences (such as murder,
rape and robbery) that have been committed from the Magistrates’ Court for trial, cases committed for
sentencing, and appeals from Magistrates’ Courts. Cases are heard by a judge and a jury. Decisions of
the Crown Court may be appealed to the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal.
Judges are appointed by the Crown, on the advice of the Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor, or
the appropriate cabinet ministries.