Circuit judges are judges in England and Wales who sit in the Crown Court, the County Court and some specialized sub-divisions of the High Court of Justice, such as the Technology and Construction Court. There are currently over 600 circuit judges throughout England and Wales.
Circuit judges in their ceremonial robes in procession at Llandaff Cathedral in 2013
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.[1] All County Court Judges were also replaced by circuit judges. 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.[2]Recorders effectively function as part-time circuit judges and are also addressed as "Your Honour".
Circuit judges rank below High Court judges but above district judges. They may be appointed to sit as deputy High Court judges, and some of the more senior circuit judges are eligible to sit in the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal.
Formerly, circuit judges could only be drawn from barristers and solicitors of at least 10 years' standing.[3] However, in 2004 there were calls for increased diversity among the judiciary that were recognised and the qualification period was changed[4][5] so that, as of 21 July 2008, a potential circuit judge must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 7-year basis.[6]
Each circuit judge is assigned to a court circuit. There are six in England and Wales, namely the Midland, Northern, North Eastern, South Eastern and Western circuits, and the Wales and Chester circuit. Despite the name, Chester is a part of the Northern Circuit for administrative purposes.[7]
Court dressedit
When hearing criminal cases, circuit judges wear a violet robe with lilac trim, bands, a short horsehair wig and a red tippet (sash) over the left shoulder. For civil cases they wear the same robe with a lilac sash, but neither bands nor wigs are worn. When sitting at the Old Bailey, and for some types of High Court work, circuit judges wear a black silk gown over a court coat or a waistcoat.[8] On ceremonial occasions they wear violet robes with a lilac trim and a full-bottomed wig.
Senior and resident circuit judgesedit
Some circuit judges are appointed as senior circuit judges and take on additional responsibility, such as the running of the largest court centres.[9]
Some Crown Courts will appoint judges as 'resident judges', who will only hear cases at that court and act as the senior judge.[10] This is often accompanied with an honorary recorder title.[11]
Literary referencesedit
In Rumpole and the Reign of Terror by John Mortimer, Horace Rumpole dismisses the idea of being a circuit judge: "Circus judge is what I call them."[12]
circuit, judge, england, wales, circuit, judges, judges, england, wales, crown, court, county, court, some, specialized, divisions, high, court, justice, such, technology, construction, court, there, currently, over, circuit, judges, throughout, england, wales. Circuit judges are judges in England and Wales who sit in the Crown Court the County Court and some specialized sub divisions of the High Court of Justice such as the Technology and Construction Court There are currently over 600 circuit judges throughout England and Wales Circuit judges in their ceremonial robes in procession at Llandaff Cathedral in 2013The office of circuit judge was created by the Courts Act 1971 and replaced the former offices of chairman of quarter sessions and borough recorder 1 All County Court Judges were also replaced by circuit judges 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 2 Recorders effectively function as part time circuit judges and are also addressed as Your Honour Circuit judges rank below High Court judges but above district judges They may be appointed to sit as deputy High Court judges and some of the more senior circuit judges are eligible to sit in the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal Formerly circuit judges could only be drawn from barristers and solicitors of at least 10 years standing 3 However in 2004 there were calls for increased diversity among the judiciary that were recognised and the qualification period was changed 4 5 so that as of 21 July 2008 a potential circuit judge must satisfy the judicial appointment eligibility condition on a 7 year basis 6 Contents 1 Circuits 2 Court dress 3 Senior and resident circuit judges 4 Literary references 5 References 6 External linksCircuits editMain article Circuits of England and Wales Each circuit judge is assigned to a court circuit There are six in England and Wales namely the Midland Northern North Eastern South Eastern and Western circuits and the Wales and Chester circuit Despite the name Chester is a part of the Northern Circuit for administrative purposes 7 Court dress editWhen hearing criminal cases circuit judges wear a violet robe with lilac trim bands a short horsehair wig and a red tippet sash over the left shoulder For civil cases they wear the same robe with a lilac sash but neither bands nor wigs are worn When sitting at the Old Bailey and for some types of High Court work circuit judges wear a black silk gown over a court coat or a waistcoat 8 On ceremonial occasions they wear violet robes with a lilac trim and a full bottomed wig Senior and resident circuit judges editSome circuit judges are appointed as senior circuit judges and take on additional responsibility such as the running of the largest court centres 9 Some Crown Courts will appoint judges as resident judges who will only hear cases at that court and act as the senior judge 10 This is often accompanied with an honorary recorder title 11 Literary references editIn Rumpole and the Reign of Terror by John Mortimer Horace Rumpole dismisses the idea of being a circuit judge Circus judge is what I call them 12 References edit section 44 Courts Act 1971 http www legislation gov uk ukpga 1971 23 section 44 enacted In Pictures Court room makeover BBC News Retrieved 16 October 2013 Courts Act 1971 s 16 3 a Increasing Diversity in the Judiciary Department for Constitutional Affairs October 2004 Retrieved 5 March 2008 CP 25 04 Explanatory Notes to Tribunals Courts And Enforcement Act 2007 Office of Public Service Information 2007 Archived from the original on 21 February 2009 Retrieved 5 March 2008 paras 281 316 Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 s 50 Sch 10 Pt 1 13 Circuits of England amp Wales www barcouncil org uk Retrieved 17 July 2023 Court Dress Examples Courts and Tribunals Judiciary Retrieved 30 November 2014 Circuit judges Courts and Tribunals Judiciary Retrieved 17 July 2023 Resident Judges Courts and Tribunals Judiciary Retrieved 17 July 2023 Programme of Ordinary Meetings PDF democracy gloucester gov uk Mortimer John 2007 Rumpole and the Reign of Terror Penguin UK ISBN 9780141025704 External links editJudicial Roles Circuit Judge judiciary gov uk Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Circuit judge England and Wales amp oldid 1173204953, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
