Procedures on ExcellentWiki - Legal Encyclopedia

Civil Procedure in the UK: CPR and Civil Litigation

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Civil procedure in England and Wales is governed by the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR), which came into effect on 26 April 1999 following the Woolf Reforms. The CPR introduced a unified procedural code designed to make civil litigation more efficient, accessible, and proportionate. The overriding objective, set out in CPR 1.1, requires courts to deal with cases justly and at proportionate cost. The CPR transformed English civil litigation from an adversarial free-for-all into a judicially managed process where the court actively controls the progress of cases.

Criminal Procedure in the UK: Crown Court and Magistrates' Court

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Criminal procedure in England and Wales operates through a hierarchical court system comprising the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court. The classification of offences determines the venue and mode of trial. Summary offences are tried in the Magistrates’ Court. Indictable-only offences are tried in the Crown Court. Either-way offences may be tried in either court, with the defendant having a right to elect Crown Court trial. The system is designed to allocate cases to the appropriate level of court based on their seriousness and complexity.

Judicial Review of Administrative Action

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Judicial review is the procedure by which the High Court supervises the exercise of powers by public bodies. It ensures that decisions are taken lawfully, fairly, and rationally. Judicial review does not provide an appeal on the merits but examines the legality of the decision-making process. It is governed by Part 54 of the Civil Procedure Rules and the Senior Courts Act 1981. Judicial review is a vital mechanism for holding public bodies accountable and protecting individuals from abuse of power.