DMBM665080 - Enforcement action: CCP: general: the main officers of the court

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The main officers of the county court are

The circuit judge

  • is appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
  • has responsibility (sometimes shared) for a circuit
  • moves around the courts in the circuit regularly, trying larger claims and hearing appeals arising from the decisions of the district judge
  • often hears criminal cases too in the Crown Court.

The district judge

  • is appointed by the MoJ
  • has responsibility (sometimes jointly with another district judge) for one or more districts
  • deals with procedural matters and various steps that are taken before an action is tried
  • acts as assistant to the circuit judge
  • tries smaller claims.

The court manager

  • is responsible for the day to day management of the court office
  • is assisted by a staff of clerks and bailiffs.

You should always address correspondence to the court manager when you write to the court.