The Court of Appeal has been described as the engine room of our judicial system in England and Wales. It hears appeals in all our leading cases in civil and family justice.

Its judges are concerned with upholding the rule of law. We are also concerned to do our best to ensure that our procedures are easy to access, and easy to understand.

Here you will find a wealth of information about the Court, its Judges, its processes and the places where help can be found.

Our higher courts

The Court of Appeal's calendar year is divided into four terms. Hearings in the Court of Appeal are generally held during nine calendar months but the Court also sits during the vacations between terms.

The term dates for 2004/2005 are:

• Michaelmas Term began Monday 3rd October 2005 and ended Wednesday 21st December 2005
• Hilary Term began Wednesday 11th January 2006 and ends Wednesday 12th April 2006
• Easter Term begins Tuesday 25th April 2006 and ends Friday 26th May 2006.
• Trinity Term begins Tuesday 6th June 2006 and ends Monday 31st July 2006.