Circuit judge (England and Wales)

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Circuit judges are judges in England and Wales who sit in the Crown 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.^[1] All County Court Judges were also redesignated as circuit judges. Circuit judges are styled His or Her Honour Judge X and are referred to as His or Her Honour. They are sometimes referred to as "purple judges" on account of their purple colour dress robes.^[2] Recorders effectively function as part-time circuit judges and are also addressed as "Your Honour".

Circuit judges rank below High Court judges but above district judges. They may be appointed to sit as deputy High Court judges, and some of the more senior circuit judges are eligible to sit in the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal.

Formerly, circuit judges could only be drawn from barristers and solicitors of at least 10 years' standing.^[3] However, in 2004 there were calls for increased diversity among the judiciary that were recognised and the qualification period was changed^[4][5] so that, as of 21 July 2008, a potential circuit judge must satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 7-year basis.^[6]