What is the political role of the Judiciary?

1. Dispensing justice: Ensuring equal treatment of citizens.

2. Interpretation of law.

3. Creating case law: Judges set precedent that must be followed. For example, judge sentences a rioter for four years, so other cases surrounding rioting of the same magnitude must give roughly the same sentence.

4. Declaring common law.

5. Judicial review: Courts review decisions in which citizens feel they have not been treated fairly by a public body. For example, the Belmarsh prisoners.

6. Public Enquiry: Called into any matter of public concern. For example, the Macpherson Enquiry 1999 concerning the murder of Steven Lawrence, the public enquiry examined the conduct of the police.

7. External jurisdiction: Courts decide who has jurisdiction in unclear areas. For example, arguments about who has the most devolved power.

8. Sentencing.