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.