The ARA is a statutory requirement and reviews the activities of both the court and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC), providing highlights of their work and progress against objectives, together with information about financial performance and audited accounts.

At the heart of the court is its core business of processing and considering permission to appeal applications (PTAs), hearings and judgments. During the past year the court decided 219 PTAs, delivering 43 UKSC judgments and 49 judgments in the JCPC.

Many of the judgments handed down in the past year have been of considerable public interest, and several are considered in the pages of the ARA. These include cases of great significance to the UK and also international disputes.

During the year the JCPC was joined by Dame Janice Pereira, a former chief justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Dame Janice was invited to sit with the JCPC by Lord Reed, and this was made possible after HM The King appointed Dame Janice to the Privy Council.

The court marked its 15th anniversary with a succession of events including visits to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, panel discussions in Parliament and the court, and an exhibition of its 15 most important appeals. There were also activities for younger people covering the Arts.

Finally, the court concluded its three-year Change Programme, delivering two new websites and a case management system, which allows court users to file their appeals digitally and track their progress at a time that suits them. The Change Programme was designed around the needs of our users and has resulted in more effective ways of working for court staff. It was delivered on time and in budget.

The court’s chief executive, Vicky Fox, said: “The last year has been a busy and successful one. Throughout 2024-25 we reflected on our first fifteen years with a series of public events and prepared for the future with the successful adoption of user-focused digital court services.

“The way we work has changed enormously, but our welcoming approach and dedication to excellence stays the same.”