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United Kingdom
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Key definition
Judicial review definition

What does Judicial review mean? Judicial review is the court process used to challenge the lawfulness of decisions, actions or omissions of public bodies (such as ministers, local authorities, regulators and tribunals), rather than to reconsider the merits. It is a supervisory jurisdiction developed mainly through case law, with procedural rules set by legislation and court rules. Across the UK and Ireland, typical grounds include illegality (error of law, acting beyond powers), irrationality/unreasonableness, procedural unfairness (including breach of natural justice and legitimate expectation), and, where engaged, proportionality under the European Convention on Human Rights. Common remedies are quashing, prohibiting and mandatory orders, declarations and injunctions; damages...

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Judicial Review in England and Wales: Time Limits, Acknowledgement of Service, Extensions (including Denton/Mitchell), Procurement Act 2023 Deadlines, Managing Urgent/Out-of-Hours Applications, and Costs After Settlement

Practice notes
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Time limits for bringing a Judicial review claim

On receipt of a judicial review claim form, a public body should first carefully assess whether it has in fact been brought within time. For more detailed guidance, see Practice Note: Judicial review—time limits and the pre-action protocol.

Different time limits apply for particular categories of judicial review claim:

  • Challenges to an Upper Tribunal decision must be filed within 16 days of the Tribunal’s decision notice being sent
  • Public procurement claims must be issued within 30 days of when a claimant knew, or ought to have known, of the alleged breach of the public procurement rules

The Administrative Court Judicial Review Guide, para 6.4.3.3, states: ‘Where the claim concerns a decision under [PA 2023], it must be commenced within the period specified by [PA 2023, s 106]: 30 days from the date when the claimant first knew or ought to have known that grounds for starting the proceedings had arisen’...

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Adam Heppinstall
Adam Heppinstall chambers

Adam is a common law/commercial Barrister with a very wide range of clients and specialisms. As Junior Counsel to the Crown since 2004 he has advised and represented a very large number of public bodies on a range of issues. These include local authorities, housing associations, charities, social enterprises and relating organisations. He also advises (where there is no conflict) companies and businesses contracting or otherwise interacting with public bodies, whether in relation to procurement, information law or general contractual issues. His practice covers public, regulatory and information law as well as personal injury, employment and more general commercial law issues. He has environmental, health & safety, trading standards, inquests, flooding and water drainage, chemical and pharmaceutical and traffic commissioner regulatory experience. He has appeared in most Chambers of the First-tier and Upper Tribunals. The Legal 500 describe Adam as “Very much a silk in...

Jack Castle
Jack Castle

Jack is a barrister at Henderson Chambers specialising in commercial, financial services, product liability, employment, procurement, environmental and public law. He acts for claimants and defendants in both individual and group claims.Before entering private practice Jack was a Visiting Lecturer in European Law at City Law School, University of London....

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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