The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the final court of appeal for all civil cases in the UK and for criminal cases originating in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It concentrates on cases of the greatest public or constitutional importance that affect the whole population.
Key aspects of the Supreme Court include:
Establishment: The court was created by the Constitutional Reform Act of 2005 and began operations in October 2009. It was established to create a clear separation of powers between the United Kingdom's senior judges and Parliament.
Jurisdiction: It serves as the highest appellate court for civil cases across the entire UK and for criminal cases from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the High Court of Justiciary remains the highest court for criminal cases. The Supreme Court also has jurisdiction over "devolution issues," which are legal questions about the powers of the devolved governments and legislatures in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Structure: The court is composed of 12 independently appointed judges, known as Justices of the Supreme Court. It is located in the former Middlesex Guildhall on Parliament Square in Westminster, symbolically separate from the Houses of Parliament.
Before 2009, the highest court was the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords, where senior judges (known as Law Lords) were also members of the House of Lords, the upper house of Parliament. The creation of the Supreme Court removed these senior judges from the legislative process, enhancing judicial independence