circuit judge

Circuit judges are judges in England and Wales who sit in the Crown Court, the Family Court, the County Court and some specialized sub-divisions of the High Court of Justice, such as the Technology and Construction Court. There are currently over 600 circuit judges throughout England and Wales. The office of circuit judge was created by the Courts Act 1971 and replaced the former offices of chairman of quarter sessions and borough recorder. All County Court Judges were also redesignated as circuit judges. Circuit judges are styled His or Her Honour Judge X and are addressed as "Your Honour", except when sitting at the Old Bailey or as a High Court judge, in which case they are addressed as "My Lord" or "My Lady". They are sometimes referred to as "purple judges" on account of their purple ...