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 1988 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.
