United Kingdom · Courts
Court structure of United Kingdom
Every tier of the judiciary, what it hears, and where an appeal goes next.
The hierarchy, top to bottom
- Supreme — Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
- Final appeal for all three jurisdictions except Scottish criminal cases.
- Appellate — Court of Appeal (Civil and Criminal Divisions)
- England and Wales appellate court.
- First instance — High Court, Crown Court, County Court
- King’s Bench, Chancery and Family Divisions in the High Court.
- Lower — Magistrates’ courts
- Over 90% of criminal cases begin and end here.
- Specialised — Employment, Immigration and Tax Tribunals
- First-tier and Upper Tribunal structure.
Every court in the hierarchy
- supremeLondonSupreme Court of the United KingdomAll three UK jurisdictions, except Scottish criminal appeals
- appellateLondonCourt of Appeal of England and WalesEngland and Wales
- first-instanceLondon (Royal Courts of Justice)High Court of JusticeEngland and Wales
- specialisedRegional hearing centresEmployment TribunalEngland, Wales and Scotland
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