The Court system of England and Wales

The most common type of law court in England and Wales is the magistrates’ court. More serious criminal cases go to the Crown Court. Civil cases (e.g., divorce or bankruptcy cases) are dealt with in County courts.

Appeals are heard by higher courts. For example, appeals from magistrates' courts are heard in the Crown Court. The highest court of appeal in England and Wales is the House of Lords. Scotland has its own High Court in Edinburgh. Certain cases may be referred to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

The legal system also includes juvenile courts (which deal with offenders under seventeen) and coroners’ courts (which investigate violent, sudden or unnatural deaths). There are administrative tribunals which make quick, cheap and fair decisions with much less formality. Tribunals deal with professional standards, disputes between individuals, and disputes between individuals and Government departments (for example, over taxation).

In Britain, the vast majority of judges (i.e., the people who decide what should be done with who commit crimes) are unpaid. They are called "Magistrates", a "Justices of the Peace" (JPs). They are ordinary citizens selected not because they have any legal training but because they have "sound common sense" and understand their fellow human beings. They give up time voluntarily.

A small proportion of judges are notMagistrates. They are called "High Court Judges" and they deal with the most serious crimes. High Court Judges, unlike Magistrates, are paid salaries by the State and have considerable legal training.

Magistrates are selected by special committees in every town and district. Nobody, not even the Magistrates themselves, knows who is on the special committee in their area. The committee tries to draw Magistrates from as wide a variety of professions and social classes as possible.