Lord Justice of Appeal
Encyclopedia
A Lord Justice of Appeal is an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales
, the court that hears appeals from the High Court of Justice
, and represents the second highest level of judge
in the courts of England and Wales
with lengthy experience, appointed by the Queen
on the recommendation of the Prime Minister
.
in criminal matters and the High Court of Justice
in civil matters but in some instances from a County Court
) are heard by a single Lord Justice. A full appeal is heard by three Lords Justices in the Civil Division. In the Criminal Division, a single Lord Justice hears appeals against conviction with two other judges of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division (typically, two High Court judges, or one High Court judge and one senior circuit judge). Appeals against sentence may be heard by a single Lord Justice with another judge, or by two High Court judges.
(Sir Lawrence Antony Collins).
When referring to a Lord Justice of Appeal in a legal context, the judge is identified by use of the surname (or first name and surname if appropriate), followed by the letters 'LJ'. For example, Lord Justice Bloggs or Lady Justice Bloggs would be referred to as "Bloggs LJ". Where several judges are listed the double letters 'LJJ' are used; for example, "Bloggs, Smith and Jones LJJ". The style was provided for by the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1877
.
All Lords Justices hold knighthoods, granted upon appointment to the High Court
(usually as a Knight Bachelor
for men and Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
for women). By convention Lords Justices are appointed to the Privy Council
, entitling them to the honorific 'The Right Honourable'.
Court of Appeal of England and Wales
The Court of Appeal of England and Wales is the second most senior court in the English legal system, with only the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom above it...
, the court that hears appeals from 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...
, and represents the second highest level of judge
Judiciary of England and Wales
There are various levels of judiciary in England and Wales — different types of courts have different styles of judges. They also form a strict hierarchy of importance, in line with the order of the courts in which they sit, so that judges of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales are generally...
in the courts of England and Wales
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...
Appointment
The number of Lords Justices was fixed at five by the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1881, but has since been increased. Lords Justices are selected from the ranks of senior judges, in practice High Court judgesJudiciary of England and Wales
There are various levels of judiciary in England and Wales — different types of courts have different styles of judges. They also form a strict hierarchy of importance, in line with the order of the courts in which they sit, so that judges of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales are generally...
with lengthy experience, appointed by the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
on the recommendation of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
.
Jurisdiction
Applications for permission to appeal a ruling of an inferior court (usually from the Crown CourtCrown 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...
in criminal matters and 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...
in civil matters but in some instances from a 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...
) are heard by a single Lord Justice. A full appeal is heard by three Lords Justices in the Civil Division. In the Criminal Division, a single Lord Justice hears appeals against conviction with two other judges of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division (typically, two High Court judges, or one High Court judge and one senior circuit judge). Appeals against sentence may be heard by a single Lord Justice with another judge, or by two High Court judges.
Title and form of address
In court, a Lord Justice is referred to as My Lord or Your Lordship if male, or as My Lady or Your Ladyship if female. The style of 'Lord Justice' is technically used for men and women, although 'Lady Justice' is used in practice. When there is already or has until recently been a judge with the same surname as a new appointee, the new judge will often use a first name as part of his or her official title. Many judges have done this, such as Lord Justice Lawrence CollinsLawrence Collins
Lawrence Antony Collins, Baron Collins of Mapesbury, PC , is a British judge and former Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. He was also appointed to the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong on April 11, 2011 as a non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions...
(Sir Lawrence Antony Collins).
When referring to a Lord Justice of Appeal in a legal context, the judge is identified by use of the surname (or first name and surname if appropriate), followed by the letters 'LJ'. For example, Lord Justice Bloggs or Lady Justice Bloggs would be referred to as "Bloggs LJ". Where several judges are listed the double letters 'LJJ' are used; for example, "Bloggs, Smith and Jones LJJ". The style was provided for by the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1877
Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1877
The Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1877 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom enacted to provide the structure of the ordinary judges of the court of appeal, the appellate division of the High Court of Justice and Lord Justices of Appeal in England and Ireland.In England, the Act...
.
All Lords Justices hold knighthoods, granted upon appointment to the High Court
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...
(usually as a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
for men and Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for women). By convention Lords Justices are appointed to the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
, entitling them to the honorific 'The Right Honourable'.