As of 1st April 2005, Her Majesty's Courts Service united the Magistrates' Courts Service and the Court Service into just one unified body to form an executive agency of the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) with the responsibility for the administration of the civil, criminal and family courts in England and Wales. Scotland and Ireland have their own Courts.

Since the Norman Conquest of 1066 until 1362 the common language of English was French. Up until 1873 when The Supreme Court of Judicature was formed, a cluster of courts were merged such as the Court of Queen's or King's depending on the reigning Monarch, High Court of Chancery presided over by the Lord High Chancellor, Court of Exchequer - A royal office from medieval England initially responsible for the collection of royal revenue, then for the adjudication of revenue cases. High Court of Admiralty, also known as maritime courts. Court of Common Pleas - heard civil cases between commoners. Court of Probate and Matrimonial Causes.

Today, The House of Lords is the highest court of appeal in England and Wales. The Supreme Court of Judicature of England and Wales is the superior court of England and Wales.

The Court of Appeal comprises two divisions; the Civil Division hears appeals from the High Court and County Court, but the Criminal Division only hears appeals from the Crown Court.

The High Court deals with both civil and criminal cases, whereas the Crown Court deals with criminal cases at the same level as the High Court, The Crown Court was established by the Courts Act of 1971 and replaced the Assizes. These were where High Court judges travelled the country hearing cases, and Quarter Sessions that were periodic county courts. The Old Bailey is the name of London's Central Criminal Court now part of the Crown Court. The Crown Court also hears appeals from Magistrate's courts.

Magistrates' courts are presided over by a bench of justices of the peace, Lay Magistrates or a legally trained district judge previously called a stipendiary magistrate. There are no juries in Magistrate's Court and they hear minor criminal cases and those elected to be heard at Crown Court level and tried by Judge and jury. Certain licensing applications may also be heard at a Magistrates Court. County Courts hear minor civil cases, and are presided over by district judges.

There are other courts and tribunals in addition to the above. Tribunals are hearings and sit in judgement over a variety of specialist areas such as Employment disputes, VAT tribunals, Land tribunals etc.

Another court officer dating back to medieval times is the Coroner, the presiding officer of a court investigating deaths that have occurred under unusual or potentially suspicious circumstances. Coroners no longer sit in judgement of Treasure Trove cases, following the passing of the Treasure Act 1996.

We also have Ecclesiastical Courts that deal with such matters as errant clergy and church property. Each Diocese has a 'Chancellor' who acts as judge and is either a barrister or solicitor. The Bishop no longer has the right to preside personally.

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