Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Back to all news

Katherine Apps Wins in First Court of Appeal Case Interpreting the 1 July CPR Changes.

Katherine Apps
In R(G) v Secretary of State for the Home Department (judgment 4 October 2013, the Court of Appeal analysed its powers under the 1 July 2013 CPR changes, when considering an application for permission to appeal from a refusal of permission for Judicial review.  In RG’s case Cranston J had refused permission for Judicial review and had declared the Claimant’s claim totally without merit.

Under changes to the CPR on 1 July 2013, where a judicial review claim has been refused permission and declared totally without merit the CPR provides that:

  •          The Claimant may not request the decision be reconsidered at an oral permission hearing in the Administrative Court (CPR rule 54.12) and
  •          Any application to the Court of Appeal will be decided on paper without an oral hearing (CPR 52.15(1A)(b)).

On considering a paper application for permission to appeal Underhill LJ held that “I am not at present satisfied that the Applicant’s case … in this unusual case is unarguably bad….however, the case is not straightforward, and I am not prepared at this stage to grant permission.” Underhill LJ ordered that permission be considered by the Court of Appeal at an expedited oral hearing.

At the hearing on 4 October 2013 Moses and Gloster LJJ held that the Court of Appeal had no power to hold an oral hearing. The inherent jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal to govern its own procedure had been precluded by the specific provisions of the CPR.  The application was remitted to Underhill LJ to decide on the papers without an oral hearing.

Littleton Comment

The judgment will be of general interest to practitioners in interpreting the effect of the recent CPR changes. It is particularly interesting that the Court of Appeal recognised the power to remit the case back to the original Administrative Court judge to decide on the papers. Employment lawyers will recognise that the EAT has a similar power to this in the employment context. It remains to be seen whether, following the judgment in R(RG – Albania) v Secretary of State for the Home Department, it will also become commonplace in appeals from judicial review proceedings.

Katherine Apps represented the Secretary of State for the Home Department, instructed by the Treasury Solicitor.

Related Members
Shortlist Updated