Historical Note

The Court of Criminal Appeal was an English appellate court for criminal cases established by the Criminal Appeal Act 1907 (7 Edw. 7. c. 23). It superseded the Court for Crown Cases Reserved, and could hear matters of law, fact or mixed law and fact. Rulings of the court included limitation of the lower courts' ability simultaneously to try multiple defendants, multiple indictments and disparate counts within an indictment. The ability of the prosecution to introduce further evidence after the close of the prosecution case was curtailed as were several prejudicial practices with a defendant's previous criminal record. Further, trial judges' ability to invade the jury's role as trier of fact came under scrutiny, as did the practice of insisting that the defence proceed even in the case of an inadequate prima facie case by the prosecution. The Court also did much to refine and systematise the law of evidence. On October 1, 1966, the Court of Criminal Appeal was superseded by the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales.

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