Judicial functions of the House of Lords

The House of Lords, in addition to having a legislative function, has a judicial function as a court of last resort within the United Kingdom. Historically, the House of Lords also functioned as a court of first instance for the trials of peers and for impeachment cases. Today, the House's jurisdiction is essentially limited to the hearing of appeals from the lower courts. Appeals are technically not to the House of Lords, but rather to the Queen-in-Parliament. By constitutional convention judges known as the Law Lords, rather than all of the Lords, hear the appeals. In accordance with the Constitutional Reform Act 2005, the judicial functions are set to be transferred to a new Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in the near future.

Related Topics:
Court of last resort - United Kingdom - House of Lords - Queen-in-Parliament - Constitutional convention - Constitutional Reform Act 2005 - Supreme Court of the United Kingdom

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~