Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/54/part/III/chapter/n3/crossheading/composition-of-court
Timestamp: 2020-02-23 20:54:48
Document Index: 515407521

Matched Legal Cases: ['art. 3', 'art. 2', 'art. 4', 'art. 4', 'art. 4', 'art. 4', 'art. 3', 'art. 2', 'art. 4', 'art. 2', 'art. 4', 'art. 4', 'art. 2']

Changes over time for: Cross Heading: Composition of court
12/11/1999- Amendment
Senior Courts Act 1981, Cross Heading: Composition of court is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 23 February 2020. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Composition of courtE+W
73 General provisions.E+W
(1)Subject to the provisions of section 8(1)(c), 74 and 75(2) as respects courts comprising justices of the peace, all proceedings in the Crown Court shall be heard and disposed of before a single judge of that court.
(2)[F1Rules of court] may authorise or require a judge of the High Court, Circuit judge [F2 , Recorder or qualifying judge advocate ] , in such circumstances as are specified by the rules, at any stage to continue with any proceedings with a court from which any one or more of the justices initially constituting the court has withdrawn, or is absent for any reason.
(3)Where a judge of the High Court, Circuit judge [F3 , Recorder or qualifying judge advocate ] sits with justices of the peace he shall preside, and—
(a)the decision of the Crown Court may be a majority decision; and
(b)if the members of the court are equally divided, the judge of the High Court, Circuit judge [F3 , Recorder or qualifying judge advocate ] shall have a second and casting vote.
F1Words in s. 73(2) substituted (1.9.2004) by The Courts Act 2003 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3175), art. 3, Sch. para. 12(b) (with art. 2(2))
F2Words in s. 73(2) substituted (2.4.2012) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 2 para. 2; S.I. 2012/669, art. 4(c)
F3Words in s. 73(3) substituted (2.4.2012) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 2 para. 2; S.I. 2012/669, art. 4(c)
(a)of any appeal; F4. . .
the Crown Court shall consist of a judge of the High Court or a Circuit judge or a Recorder [F5 or a qualifying judge advocate ] who, subject to the following provisions of this section, shall sit with not less than two nor more than four justices of the peace.
(2)[F6Rules of court] may, with respect to hearings falling within subsection (1)—
(3)[F6Rules of court] may authorise or require a judge of the High Court, Circuit judge [F7 , Recorder or qualifying judge advocate, ] in such circumstances as are specified by the rules, to enter on, or at any stage to continue with, any proceedings with a court not comprising the justices required by subsections (1) and (2).
[F8(5A)Before exercising any functions under subsection (4), the Lord Chancellor must consult the Lord Chief Justice.]
(7)[F6Rules of court] may make provision as to the circumstances in which—
(c)proceedings on the hearing of an appeal F10. . . are to be valid notwithstanding that any person taking part in them is disqualified.
[F11(8)The Lord Chief Justice may nominate a judicial office holder (as defined in section 109(4) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005) to exercise his functions under this section.]
F4S. 74(1)(b) and the preceding “or” repealed (12.11.1999) by 1999 c. 22, s. 106, Sch. 15 Pt. V(4) (with Sch. 14 paras. 7(2), 27, 36(9)); S.I. 1999/2657, art. 4
F5Words in s. 74(1) inserted (2.4.2012) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 2 para. 3(a); S.I. 2012/669, art. 4(c)
F6Words in s. 74(2)(3)(7) substituted (1.9.2004) by The Courts Act 2003 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/2035), art. 3, Sch. para. 12(c) (with art. 2(2))
F7Words in s. 74(3) substituted (2.4.2012) by Armed Forces Act 2011 (c. 18), s. 32(3), Sch. 2 para. 3(b); S.I. 2012/669, art. 4(c)
F8S. 74(5A) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 148, Sch. 4 para. 133(2); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 paras. 10, 11(p)
F9S. 74(7)(b) repealed (12.11.1999) by 1999 c. 22, s. 106, Sch. 15 Pt. V(4) (with Sch. 14 paras. 7(2), 27, 36(9)); S.I. 1999/2657, art. 4
F10Words in s. 74(7)(c) repealed (12.11.1999) by 1999 c. 22, s. 106, Sch. 15 Pt. V(4) (with Sch. 14 paras. 7(2), 27, 36(9)); S.I. 1999/2657, art. 4
F11S. 74(8) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 148, Sch. 4 para. 133(3); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 10, 11(p)