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Supreme Court - Coggle Diagram
Supreme Court
Role
Supreme court hears appeals from lower courts
Ensure the rule of law is applied consistently
Interpret the law
Can set precedents (Changes how the law is interpret)
Carry out a judicial review
HRA led to a huge increase
Immigration peaked in 2013
Not all supreme court judges hear all cases
Composition of the supreme court
Serve until 70
appointed by the Judicial appointment commission (JAC)
Minimum age to get in is... +15 years experience
+2 years in a senior role
Independence
No party affiliation
Subjudice
Contempt of court
Security of tenure (unless they break the law)
Salaries set by parliament and kept confidential
Overseen by a non political role
Neutrality
Check track record for bias
media will pick up on bias
Threats to neutrality/independence
Attacks from ministers
Some executive influence
Unnacountable/unelected
Not much diversity
How was the supreme court created?
Constitutional reform act 2005 brought in the supreme court
Became functional in 2009
Before this was created the alternative was the Law Lords (pre 2009)
Headed by the lord chancellor (too political)
Supreme court overseen by the lord/chief justice (unpolitical)
why was this change made
More independent (Separation of powers)
Executive too powerfull
Protect minority groups (1981 Dudgeon case)
They are forced to abide by and enforce the Human rights act
Relationships
Parliament
Sovereign
Judges do not make law
Parliament can be pro-active whereas judges can only be reactive
Human rights act empowers the supreme court
Laws need to be compatible
British bill of rights
Executive
Argue over sentencing issues
"Protecting public"
Willingly challenge judges
Mandate elected
Not neutral and independent
Judges act without fear/favour