Legal Definitions - Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is a court that was created in 1833. It has the power to hear certain appeals related to admiralty, ecclesiastical, and Commonwealth matters.

Before the creation of this court, the Court of Delegates was the final court of appeal in England for ecclesiastical suits. However, during the reign of William IV, the power to hear final appeals was transferred to the Privy Council, and then to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

The committee is made up entirely of laypeople, except in cases where an appeal is brought under the Church Discipline Act. In those cases, ecclesiastics who are episcopal privy counselors can become members of the court.

While the Judicial Committee's decisions are not considered binding precedent in the United Kingdom, they are influential because of the overlapping composition of members of the Privy Council and the House of Lords in its judicial capacity.

For example, if a person is unhappy with a decision made by a court in a Commonwealth country, they may be able to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The committee will then review the case and make a final decision.