The Supreme Court

This lesson examines the UK Supreme Court — the highest court of appeal in the United Kingdom. Created by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and operational since October 2009, the Supreme Court replaced the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords as the final domestic court of appeal. Understanding the Supreme Court's role, composition, and significance is essential for the Edexcel A-Level Politics specification.

---

The Creation of the Supreme Court

Why Was It Created?

Before 2009, the highest court of appeal in the UK was the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords. The "Law Lords" — formally called Lords of Appeal in Ordinary — sat as both legislators in the House of Lords and as the highest judges in the land.

This arrangement was criticised for several reasons: