Legal Definitions - Lord Justice of Appeal

A Lord Justice of Appeal (abbreviated as L.J., or LL.J. in the plural) is a senior judge who serves in the Court of Appeal of England and Wales. This court is part of the higher judiciary and primarily hears appeals from decisions made by lower courts, such as the High Court, Crown Court, and various tribunals.

When a case is heard in the Court of Appeal, it is typically presided over by a panel of three judges, often including at least one Lord Justice of Appeal, who review the legal arguments and evidence to determine if the lower court made an error in law or procedure.

• Example 1: Civil Dispute Appeal

  Imagine a company, "Tech Innovations Ltd.," sues a former employee for breaching a non-compete clause in their contract. The High Court rules in favor of the employee, stating the clause was too broad to be enforceable. Tech Innovations Ltd. believes the High Court judge misinterpreted contract law and decides to appeal the decision. This appeal would be heard by a panel of judges in the Court of Appeal, which would include one or more Lords Justices of Appeal. They would review the legal arguments presented by both sides to determine if the High Court's interpretation of the contract law was correct or if a legal error occurred.

• Example 2: Criminal Conviction Appeal

  Consider a situation where an individual, Mr. Davies, is convicted of fraud in the Crown Court and sentenced to a prison term. Mr. Davies believes his conviction is unsafe because the trial judge allegedly gave incorrect instructions to the jury regarding a crucial piece of evidence. He appeals his conviction to the Court of Appeal. A panel of judges, including Lords Justices of Appeal, would carefully examine the trial transcripts, legal submissions, and the judge's summing-up to the jury to decide whether the conviction should be upheld, quashed, or a retrial ordered.

• Example 3: Public Law Challenge Appeal

  Suppose a local authority grants planning permission for a large housing development on a protected green belt area. A local environmental group challenges this decision in the High Court, arguing the authority did not follow proper legal procedures or consider environmental impact adequately. If the High Court upholds the local authority's decision, the environmental group might appeal to the Court of Appeal. Here, Lords Justices of Appeal would preside over the hearing, scrutinizing the High Court's judgment and the local authority's decision-making process to ensure it complied with administrative and environmental law.