A Level Law Judiciary Prep Questions
With Correct Answers.
Role of Judge - Answer To make decisions in respect of disputes. They must do this in a fair, unbiased
way, applying the law and the legal rules of England and Wales.
Superior judges - Answer Justices of the Supreme Court. Lord Justices of Appeal (Court of Appeal). High
Court Judges are split into 3 sections : Queens Bench Division, Chancery Division, Family Division.
Inferior Judges - Answer Circuit Judges, District Civil Judges, District Criminal Judges, District Judge,
Magistrates' Court, Recorders/Assistant Recorders: part-time judges, Tribunal Judges.
Role of justices of the supreme court - Answer Hear around 100 cases a year, cases only heard where a
point of law relevant of general public importance, binds all lower courts.
Role of Lord Justices of Appeal - Answer Hear over 1,800 criminal cases per year, panel of 3 judges so a
majority is always met, binds precedent for itself and all lower courts.
Role of high court judges - Answer Carry out the trial of cases, make decisions on the law,
winning/losing and decide the sentence
Circuit Judges - Answer Hear middle-ranking Crown Court cases and sit in the County Court travelling
around the country.
District Civil Judges - Answer Hear small claims and similar matters in the County Court.
District Criminal Judges - Answer Hear less serious Crown Court cases
Magistrate judges - Answer Officials who hear cases against accused persons and decide whether those
cases should be brought before a grand jury
, Recorders/Assistant Recorders - Answer Part-time judges working as barristers or solicitors
Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 - amended by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. - Answer
All qualifications set out here. Based on the relevant law qualification and allowed progression from 1
level of the judiciary to another.
Qualifications for a Supreme Court judge - Answer Experience as a Court of Appeal judge or high court
judge for 15 years. May also have been practicing for 15 years or more as barristers in Scotland/
Northern Ireland.
Qualifications for a Lord justice of appeal - Answer Qualified barrister or solicitor and gained
experience in law for at least 7 years or experience as a high court judge or having held a high court
qualification for 10 years.
Qualifications for a High Court Judge - Answer Qualified barrister or solicitor and have gained
experience in the law for 7 years. Or been a circuit judge for 2 years. Vast majority of high court judges
are appointed from barristers (20-30 years of experience) although some are circuit judges
Qualifications for a Circuit judge - Answer Promotion from recorder or experience in the law for 7 years
as a barrister or solicitor. The courts legal service act 1990 also allows promotion from being a district
judge or chairman of a tribunal for 3 years.
Qualifications for a Recorder - Answer Experience as a barrister or solicitor for at least 7 years.
Qualifications for a District Judge - Answer Experience as a barrister or solicitor for at least 5 years
(usually solicitors). Tribunal Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 - allows institute for Legal executives to be
appointed as Deputy District Judges
Constitution reform act 2005 - Answer Created the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) -
responsible for selecting 500-700 judicial appointments each year.
5 judicial qualities - Answer 1. Intellectual capacity
2. Personal qualities - including integrity and independence
With Correct Answers.
Role of Judge - Answer To make decisions in respect of disputes. They must do this in a fair, unbiased
way, applying the law and the legal rules of England and Wales.
Superior judges - Answer Justices of the Supreme Court. Lord Justices of Appeal (Court of Appeal). High
Court Judges are split into 3 sections : Queens Bench Division, Chancery Division, Family Division.
Inferior Judges - Answer Circuit Judges, District Civil Judges, District Criminal Judges, District Judge,
Magistrates' Court, Recorders/Assistant Recorders: part-time judges, Tribunal Judges.
Role of justices of the supreme court - Answer Hear around 100 cases a year, cases only heard where a
point of law relevant of general public importance, binds all lower courts.
Role of Lord Justices of Appeal - Answer Hear over 1,800 criminal cases per year, panel of 3 judges so a
majority is always met, binds precedent for itself and all lower courts.
Role of high court judges - Answer Carry out the trial of cases, make decisions on the law,
winning/losing and decide the sentence
Circuit Judges - Answer Hear middle-ranking Crown Court cases and sit in the County Court travelling
around the country.
District Civil Judges - Answer Hear small claims and similar matters in the County Court.
District Criminal Judges - Answer Hear less serious Crown Court cases
Magistrate judges - Answer Officials who hear cases against accused persons and decide whether those
cases should be brought before a grand jury
, Recorders/Assistant Recorders - Answer Part-time judges working as barristers or solicitors
Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 - amended by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. - Answer
All qualifications set out here. Based on the relevant law qualification and allowed progression from 1
level of the judiciary to another.
Qualifications for a Supreme Court judge - Answer Experience as a Court of Appeal judge or high court
judge for 15 years. May also have been practicing for 15 years or more as barristers in Scotland/
Northern Ireland.
Qualifications for a Lord justice of appeal - Answer Qualified barrister or solicitor and gained
experience in law for at least 7 years or experience as a high court judge or having held a high court
qualification for 10 years.
Qualifications for a High Court Judge - Answer Qualified barrister or solicitor and have gained
experience in the law for 7 years. Or been a circuit judge for 2 years. Vast majority of high court judges
are appointed from barristers (20-30 years of experience) although some are circuit judges
Qualifications for a Circuit judge - Answer Promotion from recorder or experience in the law for 7 years
as a barrister or solicitor. The courts legal service act 1990 also allows promotion from being a district
judge or chairman of a tribunal for 3 years.
Qualifications for a Recorder - Answer Experience as a barrister or solicitor for at least 7 years.
Qualifications for a District Judge - Answer Experience as a barrister or solicitor for at least 5 years
(usually solicitors). Tribunal Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 - allows institute for Legal executives to be
appointed as Deputy District Judges
Constitution reform act 2005 - Answer Created the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) -
responsible for selecting 500-700 judicial appointments each year.
5 judicial qualities - Answer 1. Intellectual capacity
2. Personal qualities - including integrity and independence
