Criminal Appeal Act 1968

33 Right of appeal to [F1 Supreme Court] . E+W

(1) An appeal lies to the [F2 Supreme Court], 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 [F3 or Part 9 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003] [F4 or section 9 (preparatory hearings) of the Criminal Justice Act 1987] [F5 or section 35 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996] [F6 or section 47 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003].

F7 (1A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F8 (1B) An appeal lies to the [F9 Supreme Court], at the instance of the acquitted person or the prosecutor, from any decision of the Court of Appeal on an application under section 76(1) or (2) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (retrial for serious offences).]

(2) The appeal lies only with the leave of the Court of Appeal or [F10 the Supreme Court]; 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 [F10 the Supreme Court] (as the case may be) that the point is one which ought to be considered by [F10 the Supreme Court].

[F11 (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.]

[F12 (4) In relation to an appeal under subsection (1B), references in this Part to a defendant are references to the acquitted person.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 33(1) and sidenote substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 148(1), Sch. 9 para. 16(3)(a); S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(d)

F2 Words in s. 33(1) substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 148(1), Sch. 9 para. 16(3)(a); S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(d)

F3 Words in s. 33(1) inserted (4.4.2005) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 68(1), 336(3), (4); S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 4 (with Sch. 2) (as explained (29.7.2005) by S.I. 2005/2122, art. 2; and as amended: (14.7.2008) by 2008 c. 4, Sch. 26 para. 78, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, Sch. 1 paras. 48(s), 50(2)(d); (30.11.2009) by S.I. 2009/3111, art. 2; (3.12.2012) by S.I. 2012/2905, art. 4; (3.12.2012) by 2012 c. 10, Sch. 14 para. 17; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l))

F4 Words added by Criminal Justice Act 1987 (c. 38, SIF 39:1), s. 15, Sch. 2 para. 3

F5 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

F6 Words in s. 33(1) inserted (24.7.2006) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 47(6), 336(3)(4) (with s. 48(4)); S.I. 2006/1835, art. 2(e)

F7 S. 33(1A) repealed (1.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), s. 94(1), Sch. 8 para. 144, Sch. 14; S.I. 2008/755, art. 2(1)(a)(d) (with arts. 3-14)

F8 S. 33(1B) inserted (4.4.2005) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 81(2), 336(3)(4); S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 5 (with Sch. 2) (as explained (29.7.2005) by S.I. 2005/2122, art. 2; and as amended: (14.7.2008) by 2008 c. 4, Sch. 26 para. 78, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, Sch. 1 paras. 48(s), 50(2)(d); (30.11.2009) by S.I. 2009/3111, art. 2; (3.12.2012) by S.I. 2012/2905, art. 4; (3.12.2012) by 2012 c. 10, Sch. 14 para. 17; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l))

F9 Words in s. 33(1B) substituted (1.10.2009) by virtue of Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 148(1), Sch. 9 para. 82(4); S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(d)

F10 Words in s. 33(2) substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 148(1), Sch. 9 para. 16(3)(b); S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(d)

F11 S. 33(3) inserted by Supreme Court Act 1981 (c. 54, SIF 37), Sch. 5 para. 1

F12 S. 33(4) inserted (4.4.2005) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 81(3), 336(3)(4); S.I. 2005/950, art. 2(1), Sch. 1 para. 5 (with Sch. 2) (as explained (29.7.2005) by S.I. 2005/2122, art. 2; and as amended: (14.7.2008) by 2008 c. 4, Sch. 26 para. 78, Sch. 28 Pt. 2; S.I. 2008/1586, Sch. 1 paras. 48(s), 50(2)(d); (30.11.2009) by S.I. 2009/3111, art. 2; (3.12.2012) by S.I. 2012/2905, art. 4; (3.12.2012) by 2012 c. 10, Sch. 14 para. 17; S.I. 2012/2906, art. 2(l))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 33(3) restricted (30.12.2002 for certain purposes, 24.3.2003 otherwise) by Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (c. 29), ss. 90(1), 458(1); S.I. 2002/3015, art. 2, Sch.; S.I. 2003/333, art. 2, Sch.

C2 S. 33(3) restricted (18.12.2003) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), s. 336(2), Sch. 22 para. 14(4)

C3 S. 33(3) restricted (18.12.2003) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 274(6), 336(2)

C4 S. 33(3) restricted (31.12.2005) by The Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 (Enforcement of Overseas Forfeiture Orders) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3180), arts. 1(1), 34(1)

C5 S. 33(3) restricted (1.1.2006) by The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Requests and Orders) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/3181), arts. 1, 48(1)

C6 S. 33(3) restricted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 74(9), 178(8); S.I. 2006/378, art. 5(1) (with art. 5(2))

C7 S. 33(3) restricted (6.4.2008) by Serious Crime Act 2007 (c. 27), ss. 24(12), 94(1); S.I. 2008/755, art. 15(1)(e) (with art. 15(2)(3))

C8 S. 33(3) excluded (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), ss. 389(2), 416(1) (with ss. 2, 398(1), 406, Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2