Court Hierarchy of England & Wales
The courts of England & Wales are arranged in a hierarchy. Higher courts hear appeals from lower courts, and their decisions are binding on courts below them under the doctrine of precedent (stare decisis). The system distinguishes between criminal courts (shown in red) and civil courts (shown in blue). Tribunals (shown in green) form a separate but parallel structure.
1Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
The final court of appeal for all civil cases across the UK and criminal cases from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Hears cases of the greatest public or constitutional importance.
Jurisdiction: Civil: UK-wide · Criminal: England, Wales & NI
Judges: 12 Justices of the Supreme Court (hear cases in panels of 5, 7, 9, or 11)
2Senior Courts of England & Wales
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
Hears appeals against conviction and sentence from the Crown Court. Permission to appeal is usually required.
Jurisdiction: Criminal appeals from the Crown Court
Judges: Lord Chief Justice, Heads of Division, Lords/Lady Justices of Appeal
Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Hears appeals from the High Court, County Court, and certain tribunals. Permission to appeal is required.
Jurisdiction: Civil appeals
Judges: Master of the Rolls, Lords/Lady Justices of Appeal
3High Court of Justice
Queen's/King's Bench Division
Handles complex civil claims (contract, tort, personal injury over £100k), judicial review (Administrative Court), commercial disputes, and admiralty cases.
Jurisdiction: Civil claims, judicial review, commercial, admiralty
Judges: High Court Judges (Puisne Judges), Deputy High Court Judges
Chancery Division
Deals with equity, trusts, land disputes, probate (contested), company law, insolvency, intellectual property, and revenue cases.
Jurisdiction: Equity, trusts, property, company, IP, insolvency
Judges: Chancellor of the High Court, High Court Judges
Family Division
Handles complex family cases including divorce finances, international child abduction, forced marriage protection, and inherent jurisdiction cases involving children.
Jurisdiction: Family law — complex and international cases
Judges: President of the Family Division, High Court Judges
4Crown Court & County Court
Crown Court
Tries serious criminal offences (indictable and either-way offences committed for trial). Also hears appeals from the Magistrates' Court. Jury trials.
Jurisdiction: Serious criminal cases, appeals from Magistrates' Court
Judges: High Court Judges, Circuit Judges, Recorders · Jury of 12
County Court
Handles most civil disputes: contract, tort (under £100k), landlord & tenant, family, insolvency, and small claims (under £10k).
Jurisdiction: Civil claims, family, small claims, possession
Judges: Circuit Judges, District Judges
Family Court
Handles most family cases: divorce, children proceedings, domestic abuse orders, adoption, and financial remedies.
Jurisdiction: Family law — most cases at first instance
Judges: District Judges, Circuit Judges, High Court Judges
5Magistrates' Court & Tribunals
Magistrates' Court
Handles summary criminal offences and the early stages of all criminal cases. Also deals with some civil matters (licensing, council tax). No jury.
Jurisdiction: Summary offences, bail, committal, licensing
Judges: Lay Magistrates (Justices of the Peace) or District Judges (Magistrates' Courts)
First-tier Tribunal
Hears appeals in specialist areas: immigration, social security, tax, property, mental health, SEND, and employment (Employment Tribunal).
Jurisdiction: Administrative justice — immigration, tax, benefits, employment, property
Judges: Tribunal Judges, specialist panel members
Upper Tribunal
Hears appeals on points of law from the First-tier Tribunal. Has judicial review jurisdiction in some areas. Its decisions are binding on the First-tier Tribunal.
Jurisdiction: Appeals on law from First-tier Tribunal, some judicial review
Judges: Upper Tribunal Judges
Key Principles
Doctrine of Precedent (Stare Decisis)
Lower courts are bound by the decisions of higher courts. The Supreme Court's decisions bind all courts below. The Court of Appeal is generally bound by its own previous decisions (subject to the exceptions in Young v Bristol Aeroplane Co [1944]).
Appeals Route — Criminal
Magistrates' Court → Crown Court (rehearing) or High Court (case stated on law) → Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) → Supreme Court. The prosecution may refer unduly lenient sentences to the Court of Appeal.
Appeals Route — Civil
County Court → High Court or Court of Appeal (Civil Division) → Supreme Court. Permission to appeal is required at each level. Appeals are generally limited to questions of law, not findings of fact.
Tribunal System
First-tier Tribunal → Upper Tribunal → Court of Appeal → Supreme Court. Tribunals handle specialist areas of administrative justice including immigration, tax, employment, social security, mental health, and property.