[F166 Composition of magistrates’ courts for family proceedings: general.E+W
(1)A magistrates’ court when hearing family proceedings shall be composed of—
(a)two or three lay justices; or
(b)a District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) as chairman and one or two lay justices;
or, if it is not practicable for such a court to be so composed, a District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) sitting alone.
(2)Except where such a court is composed of a District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) sitting alone, it shall, so far as practicable, include both a man and a woman.
(3)In this section [F2“lay justice” has the same meaning as in the Courts Act 2003] .]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 66 substituted (31.8.2000) by 1999 c. 22, ss. 78, 108(1), Sch. 11 paras. 26, 27 (with s. 107, Sch. 14 para. 7(2)); S.I. 2000/1920, art. 3(a)
F2Words in s. 66(3) substituted (1.4.2005) by Courts Act 2003 (c. 39), ss. 109(1), 110, Sch. 8 para. 215; S.I. 2005/910, art. 3(y)