Court of Appeal (England and Wales)

Court of Appeal
Established1 November 1875
JurisdictionEngland and Wales
LocationRoyal Courts of Justice, Strand, City of Westminster, London, UK
Composition methodAppointment by the Monarch on recommendation of the Lord Chancellor who receive a recommendation from the Judicial Appointments Commission
Authorised by
Appeals toSupreme Court of the United Kingdom
Appeals from
Judge term lengthMandatory retirement at age 75
Number of positions44
Websitehttps://www.judiciary.gov.uk/you-and-the-judiciary/going-to-court/court-of-appeal-home/
Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales
CurrentlyThe Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill
Since1 October 2023
Lead position ends1 September 2039
Jurist term ends1 September 2039
Master of the Rolls
CurrentlySir Geoffrey Vos
Since11 January 2021
Jurist term ends22 April 2030

The Court of Appeal (formally "His Majesty's Court of Appeal in England", commonly cited as "CA", "EWCA" or "CoA") is the highest court within the Senior Courts of England and Wales, and second in the legal system of England and Wales only to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. The Court of Appeal was created in 1875, and today comprises 39 Lord Justices of Appeal and Lady Justices of Appeal.

The court has two divisions, Criminal and Civil, led by the Lady Chief Justice and the Master of the Rolls respectively. Criminal appeals are heard in the Criminal Division, and civil appeals in the Civil Division. The Criminal Division hears appeals from the Crown Court, while the Civil Division hears appeals from the County Court, High Court of Justice and Family Court. Permission to appeal is normally required from either the lower court or the Court of Appeal itself; and with permission, further appeal may lie to the Supreme Court. Its decisions are binding on all courts, including itself, apart from the Supreme Court.