Criminal Appeal Act 1968

The appeal E+W

33 Right of appeal to House of Lords. E+W

(1) An appeal lies to the House of Lords, at the instance of the defendant or the prosecutor, from any decision of the Court of Appeal on an appeal to that court under Part I of this Act [F1 or section 9 (preparatory hearings) of the Criminal Justice Act 1987][F2 or section 35 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996].

(2) The appeal lies only with the leave of the Court of Appeal or the House of Lords; and leave shall not be granted unless it is certified by the Court of Appeal that a point of law of general public importance is involved in the decision and it appears to the Court of Appeal or the House of Lords (as the case may be) that the point is one which ought to be considered by that House.

[F3 (3) Except as provided by this Part of this Act and section 13 of the Administration of Justice Act 1960 (appeal in cases of contempt of court), no appeal shall lie from any decision of the criminal division of the Court of Appeal.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words added by Criminal Justice Act 1987 (c. 38, SIF 39:1), s. 15, Sch. 2 para. 3

F2 Words in s. 33(1) inserted (4.7.1996 but with effect on 15.4.1997 as mentioned in s. 28) by 1996 c. 25, ss. 28, 36 (with s. 76(1)); S.I. 1997/1019, art. 4

F3 S. 33(3) inserted by Supreme Court Act 1981 (c. 54, SIF 37), Sch. 5 para. 1

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 33(3) restricted (30.12.2002 for certain purposes and otherwise prosp.) by Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29), s. 90(1); S.I. 2002/3015, {art. 2)}, Sch.

34 Application for leave to appeal. E+W

(1) An application to the Court of Appeal for leave to appeal to the House of Lords shall be made within the period of fourteen days beginning with the date of the decision of the Court; and an application to the House of Lords for leave shall be made within the period of fourteen days beginning with the date on which the application for leave is refused by the Court of Appeal.

(2) The House of Lords or the Court of Appeal may, upon application made at any time by the defendant, extend the time within which an application may be made by him to that House or the Court under subsection (1) above.

(3) An appeal to the House of Lords shall be treated as pending until any application for leave to appeal is disposed of and, if leave to appeal is granted, until the appeal is disposed of; and for purposes of this Part of this Act an application for leave to appeal shall be treated as disposed of at the expiration of the time within which it may be made, if it is not made within that time.

35 Hearing and disposal of appeal. E+W

(1) An appeal under this Part of this Act shall not be heard and determined by the House of Lords unless there are present at least three of the persons designated Lords of Appeal by section 5 of the M1 Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876.

(2) Any order of the House of Lords which provides for the hearing of applications for leave to appeal by a committee constituted in accordance with section 5 of the said Act of 1876 may direct that the decision of that committee shall be taken on behalf of the House.

(3) For the purpose of disposing of an appeal, the House of Lords may exercise any powers of the Court of Appeal or may remit the case to the Court.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2 S. 35(1) applied by Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33, SIF 39:1), s. 36(5)

C3 S. 35(1) extended by Criminal Justice Act 1972 (c. 71), s. 36(4)

Marginal Citations

M1 1876 c. 59.