# The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025, Rule 36.6: Hearings

Extent: E+W

(1) The general rule is that the Court of Appeal must hear in public—
(a) an application, including an application for permission to appeal; and
(b) an appeal or reference,
but it may order any hearing to be in private.
(2) Where a hearing is about a public interest ruling, that hearing must be in private unless the court otherwise directs.
(3) Where the appellant wants to appeal against an order restricting public access to a trial, the court—
(a) may decide without a hearing—
(i) an application, including an application for permission to appeal, and
(ii) an appeal; but
(b) must announce its decision on such an appeal at a hearing in public.
(4) Where the appellant wants to appeal or to refer a case to the Supreme Court, the court—
(a) may decide without a hearing an application—
(i) for permission to appeal or to refer a sentencing case, or
(ii) to refer a point of law; but
(b) must announce its decision on such an application at a hearing in public.
(5) Where a party wants the court to reopen the determination of an appeal—
(a) the court—
(i) must decide the application without a hearing, as a general rule, but
(ii) may decide the application at a hearing; and
(b) need not announce its decision on such an application at a hearing in public.
(6) A judge of the Court of Appeal and the Registrar may exercise any of their powers—
(a) at a hearing in public or in private; or
(b) without a hearing.
[Note. For the procedure on an appeal against an order restricting public access to a trial, see Part 40.
For the procedure on an application to reopen the determination of an appeal, see rule 36.15.]

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/909/rule/36.6 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-rules-2025/rule-36.6/enacted
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.