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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) The role of the UK Supreme Court
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The role of the UK Supreme Court
How does the UKSC fit into the UK's courts system?
Can the UKSC overrule the UK Parliament?
Can the UKSC overrule Devolved Parliaments and Assemblies in other parts of the UK?
How many cases are heard in a year?
The building
Why was the building selected as the home of the UKSC?
Why was it called the "Middlesex Guildhall"?
Why isn't there the Royal Coat of Arms in every court?
What does the Supreme Court emblem represent?
Access to information and advice
How do I ask for information under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act or submit a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act?
Does the UKSC provide advice on legal matters?
Facilities
What hours is the UKSC open?
How do I get to the UKSC?
Can I go and sit in a court or walk around the building?
Where can I buy refreshments?
Is there anywhere to leave my belongings?
Have you got baby changing facilities at the UKSC?
What visual impairment facilities are there at the UKSC?
What wheelchair accessibility is there at the UKSC?
Does the UKSC use a hearing loop?
Do you offer guided tours?
Do you offer free tours for schools?
How possible is it to meet a Justice in person?
Can I book an event at the UKSC?
Does the UKSC sell souvenirs?
Does the UKSC provide language guides?
Are there any activities for children?
Can I access the library?
Can I "tweet" or text from a UKSC courtroom during hearings?
Is Wifi available at the Supreme Court?
Professional users
Can I appeal to the Supreme Court?
What hours is the Registry open?
Can I get a copy of a party's 'skeleton argument' or case?
To whom should cheques for Court fees be made payable?
How long do things take once I have handed in my form and document?
Is Legal Aid available for taking cases to the UKSC?
How do I get passes for my legal team?
How do I book lunch for my Legal team?
Are there facilities available for me to hold private discussions with my Legal team?
How do I find the meeting room I need on arrival?
Are Video Conferencing facilities available at the UKSC?
How can I find out when a case is due to be heard?
How can I find out when a judgment is due to be published?
How do I sign up to receive latest judgments?
How do I access footage from the courts?
I have exhausted all my domestic remedies. How do I obtain a letter to enable me to go to ECHR?
Can I apply to come on work experience at the Supreme Court?
Can I apply to 'marshal' a Supreme Court Justice?
The role of the UKSC
How does the UKSC fit into the UK’s courts system?
The Supreme Court replaced the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords as the highest court in the United Kingdom. The Court hears appeals on arguable points of law of the greatest public importance, for the whole of the United Kingdom in civil cases, and for England, Wales and Northern Ireland in criminal cases.
Additionally, it hears cases on devolution matters under the Scotland Act 1998, the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Government of Wales Act 2006. This jurisdiction was transferred to the Supreme Court from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
The Supreme Court hears appeals from the following courts in each jurisdiction:
England and Wales
The Court of Appeal, Civil Division
The Court of Appeal, Criminal Division
(in some limited cases) the High Court
Scotland
The Court of Session
Northern Ireland
The Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland
(in some limited cases) the High Court
You can view this in diagram form (PDF).
Can the UKSC overrule the UK Parliament?
No it cannot. Unlike some Supreme Courts in other parts of the world, the UK Supreme Court does not have the power to ‘strike down’ legislation passed by the UK Parliament. It is not the Court’s role to formulate public policy, but to interpret law and develop it where necessary, through well-established processes and methods of reasoning.
However, the Supreme Court must give effect to directly applicable European Union law, and interpret domestic law so far as possible consistently with European Union law. It must also give effect to the rights contained in the European Convention on Human Rights.
Can the UKSC overrule Devolved Parliaments and Assemblies in other parts of the UK?
The UKSC can hear ‘devolution issues’, which include questions about whether a Bill or Act of Parliament, or any provision of a Bill or Act of Parliament, would be within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament or of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Under the Government of Wales Act 2006, a question whether an Order in Council, Assembly Measure, Act of the Assembly or Bill is within the legislative competence of the Welsh Assembly can also be referred to the UKSC.
How many cases are heard in a year?
In the legal year 2010/11, 80 cases were heard by the Supreme Court. This is in addition to 42 cases heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
The building
Why was the building selected as the home of the UKSC?
In 2004 a comprehensive evaluation of a number of buildings within the Central London Region was undertaken. The property evaluation exercise was based on the statement of requirements agreed with the Law Lords. The initial search generated a long-list of 48 properties. After closer scrutiny against a number of criteria (size, operational efficiency, adaptability and suitability), five of these merited further consideration, and the Middlesex Guildhall, situated on Parliament Square, was finally chosen.
The location is highly symbolic: it has been associated with the law for nearly a millennium, and the renovation will extend the life of the building well beyond what would have possible in its former use. Why was it called the "Middlesex Guildhall"?
The 1913 building which is home to the Supreme Court was built as the headquarters for Middlesex County Council and Quarter Sessions. In 1965, the council was abolished (through the formation of the Greater London Council) and the building became a Crown Court.
Why isn't there the Royal Coat of Arms in every court?
Justices of the Supreme Court administer Justice in the name of HM The Queen. A version of the Royal Coat of Arms is installed above the entrance to the building and an historic version is also on the ceiling of the Library.
As a United Kingdom Court (hearing civil appeal cases from all over the United Kingdom and all criminal cases in England and Wales and Northern Ireland), the decision not to use the Royal Coat of Arms in the courtrooms took account of the provisions of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 and the fact that different versions of the Coats of Arms are used in different parts of the UK. The decision also took account of the fact that the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council also sits in the building, and it is the final Court of Appeal for some countries which are Republics.
What does the Supreme Court emblem represent?
The Supreme Court’s official emblem is formed by a heraldic representation of the flowers of the four countries from which appeals come to the Court, surrounded by a motif representing both Libra for justice and Omega for finality. The formal version is surmounted by the Crown to indicate that the Court operates under the authority of the Monarch.
The formal version of our emblem was approved by Garter King of Arms and Her Majesty The Queen. This is used on all formal correspondence, judgments, reports, Justices’ stationery, formal invitations etc. The emblem also forms part of our official seal, which is used by the Registry when sealing all documents, and is the main identifying feature at the entrance to the building.
In common with many organisations, we adopt a range of versions of our emblem depending on the context.
Further details about the design of the emblem can be found in our New Artwork section of this website.
Access to information and advice
How do I ask for information under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act or submit a Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act?
We aim to make as much information as possible available through our FOI Publication Scheme. If the information you require is not available through our Publication Scheme you may send your request to :
Paul Brigland
Departmental Records Officer
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
Parliament Square
London
SW1P 3DB
Email Paul Brigland
Remember that the FOI Act gives you the right to ask for recorded information held by public authorities, and if it is held, to be provided with that information, subject to certain exemptions. Court records, for example, are exempt from disclosure under section 32. The FOI Act does not give the right to seek opinions, legal interpretation or explanations.
If you wish to apply for access to your personal data, known as a “subject access request” under the Data Protection Act, please refer to the relevant part of our Publication Scheme or write to Paul Brigland whose contact details are given above.
Does the UKSC provide advice on legal matters?
The UKSC does not provide a legal information or advice service. Registry staff can only advise on procedural matters in relation to the cases which come before it. The UKSC’s judgments are available as part of our Publication Scheme and can be viewed on the Decided Cases pages of this website.
Facilities
What hours is the UKSC open?
The Supreme Court building is open to the public from 9.30am to 4.30pm (last entry) Monday to Friday. Legal teams may enter from 8.30 am on court sitting days. It is closed on weekends except for special occasions such as Open House weekend, which are advertised on the front page of this website.
How do I get to the UKSC?
View our How to find us section for details of our location and travel information.
Can I go and sit in a court or walk around the building?
Yes, you can. During term time courts normally sit Monday to Thursday; from 11am on Mondays, and from 10.30am Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays until 4pm. (There is a break at lunchtime from 1pm-2pm.) During the court sessions the public are more than welcome to sit in court in the public gallery, provided they turn their mobile phones off. If you do not wish to watch a hearing or there are none occurring during your visit then you are able to walk around the building and see the court rooms not currently in use as well as our educational exhibition situated on the lower ground floor.
Where can I buy refreshments?
The Supreme Court has a café on the lower ground floor serving hot and cold food as well as a range of coffees, tea and other soft drinks.
Is there anywhere to leave my belongings?
No, due to space and security issues we do not have anywhere to store visitor’s belongings.
Have you got baby changing facilities at the UKSC?
Yes. On the lower ground floor there is a disabled toilet which has also has baby changing facilities.
What visual impairment facilities are there at the UKSC?
The Supreme Court has braille notices on the toilet doors; the UKSC website has also met required standards for text size. We can also provide large print versions of our key visitor leaflets.
What wheelchair accessibility is there at the UKSC?
The Supreme Court is wheelchair accessible throughout the whole building.
Does the UKSC use a hearing loop?
Yes it does. To make use of this you should turn your hearing aid to ‘T’ on entry.
Do you offer guided tours?
Yes. For a small charge, visitors can join a guided tour which are scheduled to take place on days when the court is not sitting. You can book anywhere between one and 25 places, if there are spaces available. For more information and details of how to book, please see the Guided tours section of this website.
Do you offer free tours for schools?
Yes, we do. Groups must be no more than 25 and a tour should be booked at least 4 weeks in advance. Please see the School & college tours section of the website for more information on the educational work of the Court and a booking form.
How possible is it to meet a Justice in person?
As you will appreciate, the Justices spend the bulk of their time in the building sitting in court, preparing for cases and writing judgments, so they are rarely available to address visiting groups.
Can I book an event at the UKSC?
Yes, there are two rooms for hire in the Court for corporate events in the evening or during recess. The maximum number of guests we can accommodate for a sit down dinner is 60, or 100 for a drinks reception. To make your enquiry please email our Events Manager or for more information see the Venue Hire section of this website.
Does the UKSC sell souvenirs?
Yes, a range of souvenirs can be purchased from the café which is on the lower ground floor of the building. See our Shop section for further details.
Does the UKSC provide language guides?
Yes, we provide information leaflets in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Welsh. You can download these ahead of your visit from the Other Languages section of the website.
Are there any activities for children?
Yes, there is a quiz sheet aimed at 5-10 year olds. Older children may be interested in the interactive exhibition on the lower ground floor.
Can I access the library?
No, the library is only for the use of the Justices and their Judicial Assistants. However, its doors are opened to the public on Open House weekend and selected other dates, which are advertised on the front page of this website.
Can I "tweet" or text from a UKSC courtroom during hearings?
Yes, usually, subject to any directions from the Justices. Full details can be found on our Policy on the use of live, text-based communications from Court.
Is Wifi available at the Supreme Court?
BT OpenZone has good coverage throughout the building, including the courtrooms. However, in common with other Government buildings and courts, this is not provided free of charge, and you need to set up an account with BT in advance in order to access this service. Alternatively, you can 'pay as you go' by credit or debit card, by connecting to the BT OpenZone network with the strongest signal, and then following the on-screen instructions via your browser.
Professional users
Can I appeal to the Supreme Court?
The Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court can be found in Practice Direction 1, which describes by which courts your case must have already been heard before you can apply for permission to appeal to this Court.
What hours is the Registry open?
The Registry is open from 10.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on Mondays to Thursdays during the law terms and from 10 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. on Fridays and outside the law terms. During August the Registry is open from 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
The Registry is open on every day of the year except:
Saturdays and Sundays,
the Thursday before Good Friday, Good Friday and the day after Easter Monday,
during the Christmas vacation (a two week period over Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve, published on
this website in December),
Bank Holidays in England and Wales under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, and such other days as the Registrar, with the agreement of the President and the Chief Executive, may direct.
Can I get a copy of a party's 'skeleton argument' or case?
The Supreme Court does not publish parties' cases. Those interested in obtaining copies of such papers are encouraged to contact the parties directly with their request. Parties should note that, generally speaking, the Court has no objection to them releasing their cases (skeleton arguments).
Should parties decline a request made of them for disclosure of their case, an application can be lodged with the Registrar seeking such disclosure (using Court Form 2), and this attracts the fee for 'other applications' (currently £350).
To whom should cheques for Court fees be made payable?
Details of fees payable can be found via the Fees and costs page of this website. Cheques should be made payable to “The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom”.
How long do things take once I have handed in my form and documents?
Applications for permission to appeal take approximately 8 sitting weeks to be determined. Parties will be informed by letter and/or email.
Is Legal Aid available for taking cases to the UKSC?
In certain circumstances, yes. However, the Supreme Court does not make decisions about whether or not legal aid should be granted to parties (though it may determine the amount of costs to be paid by parties following a hearing). Your legal professional will be able to advise on the process for seeking such aid, the system for which is co-ordinated by the Legal Services Commission (for England and Wales, other bodies are responsible in Scotland and Northern Ireland).
How do I get passes for my legal team?
You should complete Court Form 4 and email Registry at least 24 hours before your appeal is due to be heard.
How do I book lunch for my legal team?
See the Hospitality Services section of the site for details.
Are there facilities available for me to hold private discussions with my Legal team?
You can book a room for you to use throughout the day (generally limited to 0900-1700) by stipulating this requirement on Court Form 4, which must be returned at least 24 hours before your appeal is due to be heard. We cannot guarantee meeting rooms will be available for every party on busy sitting days.
How do I find the meeting room I need on arrival?
Speak to colleagues on our Reception desk (staffed from 0900) who will be happy to help. Professional users should also report to the desk to sign in upon arrival, for safety and security purposes.
Are Video Conferencing facilities available at the UKSC?
While such facilities exist on-site, availability is not guaranteed. You should stipulate that you would like access to such facilities, when completing Court Form 4, and we will inform you of availability.
How can I find out when a case is due to be heard?
Visit the Court Sittings section of the site for times of forthcoming cases.
How can I find out when a judgment is due to be published?
As soon as we are aware of a hand-down date for a judgment, it is published on our website, here. As a very broad indication, judgments tend to follow approximately 12 weeks (excluding during vacation) after the conclusion of the appeal hearing. We are unable to give any indication of the likely hand-down date for judgments not listed on the 'Future Judgments' page, and you and you may find it helpful to check that page regularly rather than contacting us about dates.
How do I sign up to receive latest judgments?
Email Enquiries with your request. Most Supreme Court judgments are published on Wednesday mornings in term time. Please note that this facility is not currently available for Judicial Committee of the Privy Council cases.
How do I access footage from the courts?
Our front page link to Sky News' live streaming service takes you directly to a web page where you can see the live proceedings of the Supreme Court. On days where more that one Supreme Court case is being heard, we select the case likely to be of greater public interest. We are unable to provide footage of past cases or judgments to members of the public or the legal profession, as it is extremely resource-intensive for us to convert our broadcast-quality footage to domestic level DVDs or other output formats.
Administering and fulfilling such requests is not possible within the Court’s current resources. Educational establishments or media organisations seeking copies of past hearings or judgments should contact the Communications team.
I have exhausted all my domestic remedies. How do I obtain a letter to enable me to go to ECHR?
You should contact the Court of Appeal, or the court you wish to appeal from, who will provide you with the required letter.
Can I apply to come on work experience at the Supreme Court?
No. We do not have the staff resources to support students wishing to spend time here on work experience, and the nature of our work makes it difficult for us to permit non-staff to have access to our office systems. To be fair to everyone, we can therefore not assist with any such requests. However, students are always welcome to visit the Court to sit in on cases and look round our exhibition area. If you are interested in a career in law, depending on where you live, you might also like to try:
In England and Wales, a local Crown, County or Magistrate's Court, information on which can be found on Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service website. Alternatively, the Bar Council may be able to put you in touch with a specific Barrister's chambers.
In Scotland, a local Justice of the Peace Court or Sheriff's Court, information on which can be found on the Scottish Courts website. Alternatively, the Faculty of Advocates may be able to put you in touch with a specific Barrister's chambers.
In Northern Ireland, a local Crown, County or Magistrate's Court, information on which can be found on the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunal Service website . Alternatively, the Bar Council of Northern Ireland may be able to put you in touch with a specific Barrister's chambers.
Can I apply to 'marshal' a Supreme Court Justice?
No. The Supreme Court's judicial support arrangements mean we are unable to offer such opportunities. If you are interested in marshalling you are advised to contact your local Crown Court and ask if any Circuit Judges are taking on a marshal or, if you are affiliated to one of the Inns of Court, you should approach a judge through them. It's worth noting that applicants are usually expected to have completed either the Legal Practice Course or the Bar Vocational Course before they apply for marshalling.
Source: supremecourt.gov.uk/faqs.html
