What is the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom?

The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom serves as the highest court of appeal for civil cases across the UK and criminal cases originating in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Established by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, it assumed the judicial functions previously held by the House of Lords. Because of parliamentary sovereignty, the court cannot overturn primary legislation passed by Parliament, though it can review secondary legislation and issue declarations of incompatibility under the Human Rights Act.

What we know

• The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the final court of appeal for all civil cases in the UK and criminal cases from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. [2]
• The court was established on 1 October 2009 under the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, taking over the judicial functions of the House of Lords. [2]
• Due to parliamentary sovereignty, the Supreme Court cannot overturn primary legislation made by Parliament. [2]
• The number of judges on the court is limited to twelve by the Constitutional Reform Act, though this can be increased by a resolution passed in both Houses of Parliament. [2, 3]

Where to go next

• whenWhen was the Constitutional Reform Act passed?
• how it workedHow are justices appointed to the UK Supreme Court?
• the bigger pictureWhat are the judicial functions of the House of Lords?
• compared withHow does judicial review differ in the United States?
• whereWhere does the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom usually sit?
• an unexpected connectionHow is a supreme court structured as a government department?The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom operates uniquely as a non-ministerial government department of the UK government.

Sources

• [1]Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (Wikidata Q1122261) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Supreme Court of the United Kingdom · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Supreme Court of the United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom · CC BY-SA 4.0

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