Circuit Judges are senior judges in England and Wales who sit in the Crown Courts, County Courts and certain specialized sub-divisions of the High Court of Justice, such as the Technology and Construction Court. The office of Circuit Judge was created by the Courts Act 1971. Circuit Judges are styled His or Her Honour Judge X and are referred to as His or Her Honour. They are sometimes referred to as "purple judges" on account of their dress robes.
Circuit Judges sit below High Court Judges but above Recorders and District Judges. They may be appointed to sit as Deputy High Court Judges. Some are also eligible to sit in the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal, though they are the more senior Circuit Judges.
There were six circuits in England and Wales: the Midland, Northern, North Eastern, South Eastern, Western and Wales and Chester. On April 1, 2005, with the creation of Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS), the six circuits were replaced by seven regions which are now: Midlands, North West, North East, South East, London, South West and Wales.
Formerly, Circuit Judges could only be drawn from barristers of at least 10 years' standing.[1] However, in 2004, calls for increased diversity among the judiciary were recognised and the qualification period was changed[2][3] so that, as of 21 July 2008, a potential Circuit Judge must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 7-year basis.[4]
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