Where to Find the Liverpool Crown Court Listings
The list on this page comes from the Crown Court daily list that HMCTS publishes for Liverpool. It shows each courtroom, the hearings in it and, where given, a start time. This site never shows first names, masks most surnames and leaves out entries marked as restricted. Entries with a note that restrictions may apply stay on the list with that note.
Because names are hidden, families usually find a case by its courtroom and case number, both shown in each entry and usually known to the defendant's solicitor. Three official places carry the same information in different forms:
- Court and Tribunal Hearings service. This is the official home of the daily list. The list on this page comes from it, with the HMCTS update time shown above the hearings.
- XHIBIT. The Ministry of Justice's XHIBIT page for Liverpool is a status board. It shows which case each courtroom is dealing with, and the page itself says it shows the day's status from 10am.
- Your own paperwork. A court letter, a witness care officer's message or your solicitor's instructions always come first. A list is a check, never a replacement.
Timing matters most the day before. HMCTS updated the list for Friday 16 October 2026 at 2.58pm on Thursday 15 October, which is one observation rather than a promise.
So the safe routine is to look in the late afternoon, again in the evening, and once more on the morning itself. The guide to when lists are published explains why timings move.
Is any of this live? Partly. HMCTS fixes the daily list when it publishes it and sometimes revises it, while XHIBIT changes during the day as courtrooms call cases. Neither one tells you a result.
Which Court in the Derby Square Building Is Your Case In?
Liverpool Crown Court shares the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts with two other criminal courts. Find a Court gives all three the same address: Derby Square, Liverpool L2 1XA. As a result, "the court on Derby Square" can mean any of them, and their lists are separate.
| Court at the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts | What its list covers | Which list to read |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool Crown Court | Jury trials, sentencing, cases sent or committed from magistrates, appeals from magistrates | The Crown Court daily list on this page |
| Liverpool & Knowsley Magistrates' Court | First appearances, less serious cases, bail hearings, cases before they go up | Liverpool and Knowsley magistrates' listings |
| Liverpool Youth Court | Defendants under 18 | Youth hearings are not open to the public |
How do you tell which court your case is in? The paperwork usually says so.
A first appearance after a police charge is nearly always at the magistrates' court. If the magistrates have sent or committed the case on, every later hearing moves to the Crown Court list, in the same building but under different courtroom numbers.
Civil and Family Cases Are Elsewhere
Liverpool Civil and Family Court is at 35 Vernon Street, L2 2BX, in a different building. Divorce, child arrangements, money claims and housing cases go there, and its lists appear on the Liverpool Civil and Family Court page. Check the address on a family or civil court letter carefully, since it will normally point to Vernon Street rather than Derby Square.
Not the "Crown Square Building"
Some third-party list pages describe Liverpool hearings as taking place "at the Crown Square building", and in October 2026 Google's AI Overview repeated it. That name belongs to Manchester. Find a Court lists Manchester Crown Court (Crown Square) at the Courts of Justice, Crown Square, Manchester M3 3FL. That is a different city and a different court.
Liverpool's lists name the building simply as "Liverpool". In the eight daily lists this site stored between 6 and 15 October 2026, every one of the 598 entries carried that building name. If a page tells you to go to Crown Square for a Liverpool hearing, ignore it and follow your letter.
How Are the Courtrooms Numbered at Liverpool Crown Court?
Crown courtrooms at Derby Square carry two-digit numbers. The XHIBIT status board for Liverpool shows eighteen of them, in four groups:
| Number group | Courtrooms shown on XHIBIT |
|---|---|
| 30s | Courts 31, 32, 33, 34 |
| 40s | Courts 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 |
| 50s | Courts 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 |
| 60s | Courts 61, 62 |
The daily lists agree with XHIBIT. On each October 2026 day stored here, 17 or 18 Crown courtrooms had hearings. Courts 56, 54 and 45 carried the most entries over those eight lists, followed by Courts 33, 42 and 41.
A single-digit number is a warning sign. One rival listings page showed Courts 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9 sitting from 9am under a Liverpool Crown Court heading. Those are not Crown courtroom numbers on XHIBIT or in the HMCTS Crown list. If your letter gives a low number, check whether the hearing is in another court in the building.
The XHIBIT page has two quirks worth knowing. Below the main table it shows sections headed "Liverpool Community Justice Centre" and "Liverpool Hilton Hotel". When this page was researched on the evening of 15 October 2026, both showed no information, and the page gives no explanation for them. They are not where Crown Court cases are being heard, so read only the main table of Courts 31 to 62.
Once through security, ask court staff if you cannot find your courtroom number. The site's courtroom guide covers what to do if your room changes on the day.
Liverpool Crown Court Schedule: What October 2026 Lists Show
People searching for the Liverpool Crown Court schedule usually want to know when a hearing will start and how busy the court is. The lists this site stored for eight sitting days, from Tuesday 6 to Thursday 15 October 2026, give a fair picture of a normal fortnight.
| Day (October 2026) | Hearings listed | Courtrooms in use | Latest listed start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 6 | 61 | 17 | 3pm |
| Wednesday 7 | 72 | 18 | 2.15pm |
| Thursday 8 | 70 | 18 | 4pm |
| Friday 9 | 115 | 17 | 3.30pm |
| Monday 12 | 87 | 17 | 3.15pm |
| Tuesday 13 | 53 | 18 | 3pm |
| Wednesday 14 | 72 | 18 | 3.15pm |
| Thursday 15 | 68 | 18 | 4pm |
Daily volume averaged about 75 hearings. Friday 9 October was the busiest day by a distance, with 115 entries across 17 courtrooms.
Start Times and the Afternoon Block
On every one of those eight days, the earliest listed time was 10.30am. That is the time to plan around for a morning hearing.
Most entries, however, had no clock time of their own. Of roughly 600 entries, only about 180 showed a time this site could read. The rest sat under a courtroom heading, and the court takes them in turn once earlier work finishes. Some carry a "not before" note, which means the case will not start earlier than that time.
Among the timed entries, the 2pm hour was the most common, ahead of the 10am hour. Midday was third. In practice, many courtrooms run a short morning list, deal with trials, then take a block of sentences or mentions after lunch.
Hearing Types That Fill the Liverpool List
The hearing types below were the most frequent across those eight lists. Together they cover most of what a visitor to Derby Square will see.
| Hearing type on the list | Entries (6 to 15 October 2026) | What it usually means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Plea and Trial Preparation | 100 | First Crown Court hearing; the defendant is asked to plead |
| Trial (Part Heard) | 87 | A trial already under way, continuing that day |
| For Mention (Defendant to Attend) | 75 | A short update hearing the defendant must attend |
| For Sentence | 59 | Sentence after a guilty plea or verdict |
| Committal for Sentence | 52 | Magistrates have sent the case up for sentence |
| For Mention | 33 | Short hearing, often lawyers only |
| For Pre-Trial Review | 23 | Checks before a trial date |
| Further Case Management | 21 | More directions before trial |
Bail applications, fresh trials, reviews and breaches of suspended sentences made up most of the remainder. For plain-English meanings of other entries, see the Crown Court daily list explainer.
Two practical points follow. First, Plea and Trial Preparation Hearings are numerous and usually much shorter than a trial, so families should not expect a full day. Second, part-heard trials stay in the same courtroom day after day, which helps witnesses and supporters find the right door.
Why Has a Case Moved or Vanished From the List?
A missing case usually means a change of plan rather than a mistake.
Perhaps a trial overran in another courtroom, or a judge became free and took a case early. A hearing may have been vacated after a plea. Some cases carry a restriction that keeps them off public versions altogether.
Trials can also be put back from one day to the next. When that happens, the entry simply reappears on a later list, often as "For Trial" before it starts and "Trial (Part Heard)" once it has. It can feel as if nothing is happening, yet the listing office is usually juggling courtrooms and judges.
What should you do? Check the next day's list in the afternoon. If you are a witness or defendant, ask your witness care officer or solicitor before travelling. The guide to why a case is not listed sets out the full set of causes.
Can Anyone Walk In and Watch a Trial at Liverpool Crown Court?
Yes, in most cases. Crown Court hearings are normally held in public, and you do not need to book a seat in the public gallery. You need to pass security, find the right courtroom and stay quiet.
Restrictions are common enough to plan for. In the October 2026 lists, between 10 and 22 entries a day carried a note that reporting restrictions may apply. Those notes limit what can be published about a case; they do not always close the gallery. A judge can still clear the public from part or all of a hearing, for example while a vulnerable witness gives evidence.
Before you go, a few points for a first visit:
- Arrive before 10.30am if you want to see a trial resume.
- Pick a courtroom from the list, then check its entry on XHIBIT during the day.
- Phones must be silent, and no photographs or recordings are allowed anywhere in the building.
- If a courtroom door shows a notice or an usher says the hearing is private, do not go in.
The public gallery guide covers etiquette, and the court reporting guide covers what students and reporters may note down.
Arriving at Derby Square on the Day
Everyone uses the same public entrance and the same security arch, and GOV.UK states that security staff search all visitors and their bags. If you have a pacemaker, tell the security officer before walking through the arch.
There is no parking at the building. Instead, GOV.UK points drivers to paid parking at the Liverpool One car park, within 500 metres of the court. Check its prices before you set off if a trial may last all day.
Inside, there is a public waiting area on each floor, plus a separate waiting area for witnesses. The youth court is on the second floor, worth knowing if someone points you there by mistake. Facilities below lists accessible toilets, refreshments and wifi.
Directions from your location: Google Maps · Apple Maps
Bring the letter or message that names your hearing, plus the case number if you have it. The security checks guide lists items that are commonly refused at the arch.
One local warning applies to anyone who has been in contact with the court. GOV.UK's Liverpool entry warns that scammers copy genuine HMCTS phone numbers and email addresses and may demand payment. If you are unsure, do not pay anything, and report the contact to Action Fraud.
Jury Service at Liverpool Crown Court
Every Crown Court jury trial in Merseyside is heard at Derby Square. The Crown Prosecution Service notes that Merseyside has just one Crown Court centre, and it is this one.
Jurors ask the same handful of questions, answered here from GOV.UK's jury service guidance:
- How long does it last? Usually up to 10 working days. Staff will tell you if a trial is expected to run longer.
- What hours? Typically 10am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, which can run past the building's public opening hours. Your first day starts earlier; the time is on your summons.
- What to bring on day one? Your summons or confirmation letter and identification, such as a passport or photo driving licence.
- Laptop, book or work? Yes. You can use phones, tablets and laptops in the jury assembly area. They must not go into the deliberation room.
- Is there food? The building has a café and vending machines, listed under Facilities below. Many jurors also bring a packed lunch, which is sensible on a long waiting day.
Waiting is normal. Staff call panels in turn, and some jurors spend whole days in the assembly area. Expect that, and bring something to do.
Jurors claim expenses rather than receiving wages. GOV.UK sets the current rates for loss of earnings, travel and food, and the jury manager explains how to claim on your first morning. Read the Crown Court visit guide if you have never been inside one.
Giving Evidence as a Witness in Liverpool
A prosecution witness hears about dates from a witness care officer, not from the list. A defence witness hears from the defence lawyer. Either way, GOV.UK's witness guidance explains that you will usually get a fixed date. Sometimes, though, you are asked to keep a period of two to four weeks free, known as a warned period, with one working day's notice to attend.
Trials at Liverpool can be put back from day to day, so a witness may wait more than once before being called. That is frustrating, yet it is not a sign that you did something wrong. If a delay causes you problems with work or care, say so to your witness care officer.
On the day itself, several things help:
- Tell security you are a witness, and ask for the witness waiting area. Derby Square has one separate from the public areas.
- Ask for the Citizens Advice Witness Service. Its volunteers support witnesses on the day and can explain who sits where in the courtroom.
- If you are a prosecution witness, ask the CPS to let you re-read your statement before you give evidence. GOV.UK says you can see it again and add to it, though it also says a statement cannot be withdrawn.
- Expect cross-examination. Questions from the other side's barrister can feel hard, and the judge can step in if a question is unfair.
You can also ask for a pre-trial visit to see a courtroom beforehand. Video links and screens are possible in some cases, arranged through the witness care officer or the defence lawyer. See the witness guide and, for victims, the victims at court guide.
Where Do Liverpool Crown Court Sentencing Results Appear?
Not on the list, because HMCTS does not add outcomes to the daily list afterwards.
A listing is a schedule of hearings, and being listed says nothing about guilt.
Results reach the public in other ways. Local news reports cover many sentencing hearings at Derby Square, and Merseyside Police publishes court result news on its own website. If you need a formal record of a result for your own case, ask your solicitor or the court's customer enquiries team.
Families waiting for a sentence usually want to know only when and where. The list shows the courtroom and a hearing type such as "For Sentence" or "Committal for Sentence", and sometimes a time. The family members' guide covers what happens in the courtroom and afterwards.
Contacting Liverpool Crown Court
The court has separate teams for listing, case progression, customer enquiries and court support, and its contact page names each one. Use the listing team for questions about dates and courtrooms. Use case progression for queries about paperwork in an ongoing case. The details below come from Find a Court and refresh automatically.
Opening times
Contact
Telephone
Facilities at the Queen Elizabeth II Law Courts, from the same source:
| Facility | Detail |
|---|---|
| No parking | There are no parking facilities at this building, however paid off-site parking is available within 500m of the venue on Liverpool One car park. |
| Disabled access | This building has level access to the entrance and all floors, lifts to all floors and level access into courtrooms. |
| Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network | Lanyards available on request. |
| Assistance dogs | Assistance dogs are welcome. |
| Hearing Loop | A mobile hearing enhancement system is available in all Courts. |
| Security arch | For safety and security, all users and their possessions will be searched by security when they enter this building. We have a security arch. Please alert the security officer if you have a pacemaker. |
| Lift | Lifts are available in the building to access all floors. A wheelchair lift is available for all floors. |
| Public toilets | Public toilets are available on all floors except the ground floor. |
| Disabled toilet | Accessible toilets are available and are located on floors 1 to 5. |
| Refreshments | Refreshments are available from the cafeteria and vending machines on site. Chilled water is available and there is a café open daily from 9:30am to 2:00pm. A vending machine is available for cold drinks and confectionary on floor 2 in the youth court. |
| Interview room | Four interview rooms are available on the ground floor. |
| Waiting Room | This building has a public waiting area on each floor and a separate witness waiting area. Please ask for details. |
| Baby changing facility | Baby changing facilities are located on all floors apart from the ground floor. |
| Prayer / Quiet room | A quiet room for prayer or contemplation is available – this is located on the 3rd floor access available at all times. |
| Video facilities | Court/hearing room video conferencing facilities and prison to court video link facilities are available (by prior arrangement via email to: lcc-courtsupport@justice.gov.uk). For queries please email: accommodation@justice.gov.uk or telephone: 0151 471 1005. |
| Wireless network connection | Wi-Fi is available in all areas of the building, access via GovWifi. |
| Witness service | www.witnessservice.org.uk |
| Filming and venue hire | Please contact us for requests to hire this building for events/filming on: 0161 240 5082/020 3334 3728 or email NWRegionalSupport@justice.gov.uk |
Video links from prison and remote attendance are possible by prior arrangement with the court support team.
Other Courts That Serve Merseyside
Liverpool is the only Crown Court for Merseyside.
Cases start in the magistrates' courts, and the CPS names three magistrates' centres in the county. They are Liverpool & Knowsley Magistrates' Court in this building, Sefton Magistrates' Court on Merton Road in Bootle, and Wirral Magistrates' Court on Chester Street in Birkenhead. Chester Crown Court and the Manchester courts serve their own areas.
- Manchester Crown Court (Crown Square): The Crown Square building is in Manchester. Some list sites wrongly attach that name to Liverpool courtrooms.
- Sefton Magistrates' Court: The Bootle magistrates' centre on Merton Road; its Crown Court cases come to Derby Square.
- Wirral Magistrates' Court: Wirral cases that go to the Crown Court are heard at Derby Square.
- Liverpool & Knowsley Magistrates' Court, L2 1XA (next door)
- Liverpool Social Security and Child Support Tribunal, L2 5UZ (0.4 km away)
- Liverpool Civil and Family Court, L2 2BX (0.6 km away)
- Wirral Magistrates' Court, CH41 5HW (2.0 km away)
- Birkenhead County Court, CH41 5EN (2.3 km away)
Liverpool Crown Court Listings: Questions People Ask
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Liverpool Crown Court Listings Updated in Real Time?
No public list is truly live. HMCTS publishes the daily list and may change it later, and this page shows when it last did. For what is happening in a courtroom right now, the XHIBIT status page for Liverpool updates during the sitting day from 10am.
When Does Tomorrow's Liverpool Crown Court List Appear?
Usually during the afternoon of the sitting day before. On Thursday 15 October 2026, HMCTS updated the list for Friday 16 October at 2.58pm. Times vary, so check again in the evening and once more on the morning of the hearing.
What Time Does Liverpool Crown Court Finish?
The building is open until 5pm on weekdays, according to GOV.UK. Courtrooms often finish earlier, though a trial can run on until the judge rises. In the October 2026 lists stored here, the latest listed start time on any day was 4pm.
Why Are Many Liverpool Cases Listed With No Time?
Most Liverpool entries carry no clock time of their own. The case is listed in a courtroom and will be called once earlier matters are dealt with, so arrive for the courtroom's first time, usually 10.30am, unless your letter or solicitor says otherwise.
Who Arranges an Interpreter at Liverpool Crown Court?
It depends on your role. GOV.UK says victims and prosecution witnesses should ask the CPS, through their witness care officer, and defence witnesses should ask the defence lawyer. Defendants should raise it with their solicitor early. Interpreting at a trial is usually free.
Can Jurors Bring a Laptop to Liverpool Crown Court?
Yes. GOV.UK says jurors may bring a phone, tablet or laptop into the building and use it in the jury assembly area. Devices cannot go into the deliberation room, and courts provide lockers. Free wifi is available at Derby Square through GovWifi.
Is Liverpool Crown Court the Only Crown Court in Merseyside?
Yes. The Crown Prosecution Service describes Merseyside as having just one Crown Court centre, at Liverpool. Serious cases from the Liverpool, Bootle and Wirral magistrates' centres all come to Derby Square, as does jury service for the whole county.
Is Liverpool Crown Court Open to the Public on Weekends?
No. GOV.UK lists the building as open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and every list this site stored for Liverpool in October 2026 was for a weekday. If another website shows a weekend hearing, confirm it with the court before travelling.
Someone Called Claiming to Be the Court and Asked for Payment. Is It Real?
Treat it with suspicion. GOV.UK warns that scammers copy genuine HMCTS phone numbers and email addresses and may demand payment. If you are unsure, do not pay. End the call, ring the court on the number shown on this page, and report it to Action Fraud.
Can You Get a Transcript of a Liverpool Hearing?
Yes, by ordering a transcript. For Crown Court hearings, GOV.UK's form EX107 is sent to the court, and a fee is usually payable to the transcription company. Some victims and bereaved families can get sentencing remarks free. Note the case number, date and courtroom from the list.
Lists change late, so check this page again on the morning of any hearing at Derby Square.
If your name appears on this site's version of a list and you want it removed, use the removal request form. For anything about your own case, speak to your solicitor, the court or the Witness Service, who can see details that no public list shows.