County
courts are staffed mainly by Circuit judges, who must
be barristers of at least seven years’ standing, or
Recorders
who have been in office for at least three years. They usually
sit alone, but in rare circumstances there may also be a jury.
Circuit judges also sit as judges of the Crown
Court, and in this capacity are always assisted by the
jury.
Despite their title, Circuit judges are usually attached to
one court only, and do not go on circuit from one court to
another.
The retirement age of a Circuit judge is seventy-two, but
he may be asked to continue to serve until the age of seventy-five.
He may be removed from office by the Lord
Chancellor on the grounds of incapacity or misbehaviour.
The Recorder and Common Sergeant of the City of London, who
deal only with criminal cases at the Central Criminal Court,
have the rank of Circuit judges.
See Also:
Function
and Status of Judges
Judicial
Independence and Immunity
|
UK
Legal Directory