What the court will do

The Supreme Court, as well as being the final court of appeal, plays an important role in the furtherance and development of UK law and will only select cases that have an element of wider public interest.

The Supreme Court will:

hear appeals on arguable points of law of general public importance
act as the final court of appeal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
hear appeals from civil cases in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland
hear appeals from criminal cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
assume the devolution jurisdiction of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, while the Commonwealth jurisdiction of the Council will remain unchanged.

The Supreme Court will hear appeals from the following courts in each jurisdiction:

England and Wales

The Court of Appeal, Civil Division
The Court of Appeal, Criminal Division
(in some limited cases) the High Court

Scotland

The Court of Session

Northern Ireland

The Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland
(in some limited cases) the High Court