Administrative Court to start hearing cases in Bristol

The Administrative Court is to start hearing High Court cases at the Bristol Civil Justice Centre from next week, the final stage in the regionalisation of its work.

Cases at the centre in Bristol will be heard by both High Court Judges and Deputy High Court Judges.

Applications to be heard in Bristol will be administered by the Administrative Court Office in Wales. Around 200 cases a year are expected to be lodged in Cardiff for hearing in Bristol.

Since 2008, the Administrative Court has operated in three English regions – the Midlands, Northern and North East – and Wales. In addition to the Royal Courts of Justice, there are Administrative Court Offices in Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds and Manchester.

Mr Justice Beatson, Queen's Bench Liaison Judge for the Midlands, Wales and Western Circuit, said: “This is the latest step in the devolution of the administration of justice outside of London and means that the Administrative Court is now operating across all the circuits in England and Wales.

“It is appropriate that people should be able to have their Administrative claims dealt with in their own region and doesn’t prejudice those who don’t live or work on London and the South East.”

The regionalisation of the Administrative Court was one of the key recommendations in the Justice Outside of London report published by a Judicial Working Group in November 2007.

The court hears challenges by judicial review to decisions by local authorities and other public bodies. It also deals with appeals on a point of law from Magistrates’ Courts.