Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

66 Composition of magistrates" courts for domestic proceedings: general. E+W

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a magistrates’ court when hearing [F1 family proceedings]shall be composed of not more than 3 justices of the peace, including, so far as practicable, both a man and a woman.

(2) Subsection (1) above shall not apply to a magistrates’ court for an inner London petty sessions area, and, notwithstanding anything in section 67 below, for the purpose of exercising jurisdiction to hear [F1 family proceedings]such a court shall be composed of—

(a) a metropolitan stipendiary magistrate as chairman and one or 2 lay justices who are members of the [F2 family panel]for that area; or

(b) 2 or 3 lay justices who are members of that panel;

or, if it is not practicable for such a court to be so composed, the court shall for that purpose be composed of a metropolitan stipendiary magistrate sitting alone.

(3) Where in pursuance of subsection (2) above a magistrates’ court includes lay justices it shall, so far as practicable, include both a man and a woman.

(4) In the preceeding provisions of this section “lay justices” means justices of the peace for the inner London area who are not metropolitan stipendiary magistrates.

(5) In this section “inner London petty sessions area” means the City of London or any petty sessional division of the inner London area.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 66(1)(2) substituted (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), ss. 92(11), 108(6), Sch. 11 Pt. II para. 8(c) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)

F2 Words in s. 66(2) substituted (14.10.1991) by Children Act 1989 (c. 41, SIF 20), ss. 92, 108(6), Sch. 11 Pt. II para. 8(d) (with Sch. 14 para. 1(1)); S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)