Circuit Judge
Encyclopedia
Circuit Judges are senior judge
s in England and Wales
who sit in the Crown Court
, County Court
s and certain specialized sub-divisions of the High Court of Justice
, such as the Technology and Construction Court.
The office of Circuit Judge was created by the Courts Act 1971
and replaced the former offices of Chairman of Quarter Sessions and borough recorder . Circuit Judges are styled His or Her Honour Judge X and are referred to as His or Her Honour. They are sometimes referred to as "purple judges" on account of their purple colour dress robes . Part-time Circuit Judges are known as Recorders but are also addressed as "Your Honour".
Circuit Judges sit below High Court Judges but above District Judges. They may be appointed to sit as Deputy High Court Judges. Some are also eligible to sit in the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal
, though they are the more senior Circuit Judges.
There were six circuits in England and Wales: the Midland, Northern, North Eastern, South Eastern, Western and Wales and Chester. On April 1, 2005, with the creation of Her Majesty's Courts Service
(HMCS), the six circuits were replaced by seven regions which are now: Midlands, North West, North East, South East, London, South West and Wales.
Formerly, Circuit Judges could only be drawn from barristers of at least 10 years' standing. However, in 2004, calls for increased diversity among the judiciary were recognised and the qualification period was changed so that, as of 21 July 2008, a potential Circuit Judge must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 7-year basis.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
s in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
who sit in the Crown Court
Crown Court
The Crown Court of England and Wales is, together with the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal, one of the constituent parts of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
, County Court
County Court
A county court is a court based in or with a jurisdiction covering one or more counties, which are administrative divisions within a country, not to be confused with the medieval system of county courts held by the High Sheriff of each county.-England and Wales:County Court matters can be lodged...
s and certain specialized sub-divisions of the High Court of Justice
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
, such as the Technology and Construction Court.
The office of Circuit Judge was created by the Courts Act 1971
Courts Act 1971
The Courts Act 1971 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom the purpose of which was to reform and modernise the courts system of England and Wales....
and replaced the former offices of Chairman of Quarter Sessions and borough recorder . Circuit Judges are styled His or Her Honour Judge X and are referred to as His or Her Honour. They are sometimes referred to as "purple judges" on account of their purple colour dress robes . Part-time Circuit Judges are known as Recorders but are also addressed as "Your Honour".
Circuit Judges sit below High Court Judges but above District Judges. They may be appointed to sit as Deputy High Court Judges. Some are also eligible to sit in the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal
Courts of England and Wales
Her Majesty's Courts of Justice of England and Wales are the civil and criminal courts responsible for the administration of justice in England and Wales; they apply the law of England and Wales and are established under Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The United Kingdom does not have...
, though they are the more senior Circuit Judges.
There were six circuits in England and Wales: the Midland, Northern, North Eastern, South Eastern, Western and Wales and Chester. On April 1, 2005, with the creation of Her Majesty's Courts Service
Her Majesty's Courts Service
Her Majesty's Courts Service is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice and is responsible for the administration of the civil, family and criminal courts in England and Wales....
(HMCS), the six circuits were replaced by seven regions which are now: Midlands, North West, North East, South East, London, South West and Wales.
Formerly, Circuit Judges could only be drawn from barristers of at least 10 years' standing. However, in 2004, calls for increased diversity among the judiciary were recognised and the qualification period was changed so that, as of 21 July 2008, a potential Circuit Judge must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 7-year basis.