Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

The UK judiciary is responsible for upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice across the whole organisation, with a structure that includes three primary courts: the Magistrates’ Court, the Crown Court, and the Supreme Court. Each of these courts handles different types of cases, contributing to an efficient, and above all fair, judicial system. Cases usually begin at the Magistrates' Court, where less serious criminal offences are typically resolved by magistrates, who within our organisation are district judges, trained in law.

More serious criminal cases are escalated to the Crown Court, which handles all indictable offences and some either-way offences. In the Crown Court, cases are heard before a circuit judge and, in many cases, a jury of at least five members of the public, who are responsible for determining the verdict. The Crown Court thus has a critical role in overseeing trials that require a thorough examination of evidence and witness testimonies.

At the top of the judiciary sits the Supreme Court, the highest court of appeal in the UK, which addresses significant legal questions affecting the whole country. The Supreme Court's role is to interpret complex points of law, often involving constitutional matters or cases of national importance. Its decisions set legal precedents that lower courts must follow, making it a cornerstone in shaping the organisation's legal landscape and ensuring consistent application of the law across the UK.