Supreme Court of the United Kingdom

Overview

The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the final court of appeal for civil cases across the UK and for criminal cases from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Established by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, it took over the judicial functions of the House of Lords in October 2009. It hears cases of the greatest public or constitutional importance affecting the whole UK. Twelve Justices sit, normally in panels of five, seven, nine, or eleven for the most important cases.

What it handles

• Final appeals from the Court of Appeal (Civil and Criminal Divisions) of England and Wales
• Appeals from the Inner House of the Court of Session (Scotland) in civil matters
• Appeals from the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal
• Devolution issues from any UK court
• Cases certified to be of general public importance

What it does not handle

• Criminal appeals from Scotland (those go to the High Court of Justiciary)
• Cases that have not exhausted the lower court appeal route
• First-instance fact-finding — only points of law

Fees

• Permission to appeal application: £1,000
• Notice of appeal (with permission): £4,820
• Fee remission: Means-tested via Form EX160

Deadlines

• Court of Appeal refuses permission → 28 days to apply to the Supreme Court
• Court of Appeal grants permission → 42 days to file the notice of appeal

Process

1. Step 1: Permission stage

   A panel of three Justices considers the written application; oral hearings are rare.

2. Step 2: Filing the appeal

   Statement of facts and issues, agreed authorities bundle, and skeleton arguments are lodged.

3. Step 3: Hearing

   Public oral hearing before a panel (usually five Justices). Hearings are streamed live and recorded.

4. Step 4: Judgment

   Written judgments are handed down weeks or months after the hearing and published on the Court's website.

Appeals

No further appeal in the UK. Some Human Rights Act claims may proceed to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Representation

Solicitor and counsel (usually KC) almost always required given the complexity of the issues.

Official sources