Circuit judge (England and Wales)

Each circuit judge is assigned to a court circuit. There are six in England and Wales, namely the Midland, Northern, North Eastern, South Eastern and Western circuits, and the Wales and Chester circuit. Despite the name, Chester is a part of the Northern Circuit for administrative purposes. == Court dress ==

When hearing criminal cases, circuit judges wear a violet robe with lilac trim, bands, a short horsehair wig and a red tippet (sash) over the left shoulder. For civil cases they wear the same robe with a lilac sash, but neither bands nor wigs are worn. When sitting at the Old Bailey, and for some types of High Court work, circuit judges wear a black silk gown over a court coat or a waistcoat. On ceremonial occasions they wear violet robes with a lilac trim and a full-bottomed wig. == Senior and resident circuit judges ==

Some circuit judges are appointed as senior circuit judges and take on additional responsibility, such as the running of the largest court centres. Some Crown Courts will appoint judges as 'resident judges', who will only hear cases at that court and act as the senior judge. This is often accompanied with an honorary recorder title. ==Literary references==

In Rumpole and the Reign of Terror by John Mortimer, Horace Rumpole dismisses the idea of being a circuit judge: "Circus judge is what I call them." ==References==