Court of Appeal (England & Wales)

Overview

The Court of Appeal of England and Wales is the second-most senior court of the jurisdiction, sitting below only the UK Supreme Court. It has two divisions: the Civil Division (hearing appeals from the High Court, County Court, and certain tribunals) and the Criminal Division (hearing appeals against conviction and sentence from the Crown Court). The Lord Chief Justice heads the Criminal Division; the Master of the Rolls heads the Civil Division. Cases are usually heard by three Lord/Lady Justices of Appeal.

What it handles

• Appeals from the High Court (Civil Division)
• Appeals from the County Court (with permission and where the route is appropriate)
• Appeals against conviction and sentence from the Crown Court
• Some appeals from specialist tribunals (e.g. the Upper Tribunal)
• References from the Criminal Cases Review Commission

What it does not handle

• First-instance proceedings — it is exclusively an appellate court
• Civil appeals from Scotland or Northern Ireland

Fees

• Appellant's notice (Civil Division): £1,199
• Criminal Division applications: No feeCriminal appeals are free for defendants.

Deadlines

• County or High Court judgment → 21 days to file appellant's notice (CPR 52.12)
• Crown Court conviction → 28 days to lodge grounds of appeal (Form NG)
• Crown Court sentence → 28 days to lodge appeal against sentence

Appeals

UK Supreme Court (with permission from the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court).

Representation

Solicitor and counsel are standard. Legal aid may be available in serious criminal appeals.

Official sources