Senior Courts Act 1981

4 The High Court. E+W

(1) The High Court shall consist of—

(a) the Lord Chancellor;

(b) the Lord Chief Justice;

(c) the President of the Family Division;

(d) the Vice-Chancellor

[F1 (dd) the Senior Presiding Judge];and

(e) not more than eighty puisne judges of that court.

(2) The puisne judges of the High Court shall be styled “Justices of the High Court”.

(3) All the judges of the High Court shall, except where this Act expressly provides otherwise, have in all respects equal power, authority and jurisdiction.

(4) Her Majesty may by Order in Council from time to time amend subsection (1) so as to increase or further increase the maximum number of puisne judges of the High Court.

(5) No recommendation shall be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order under subsection (4) unless a draft of the Order has been laid before Parliament and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

(6) The High Court shall be taken to be duly constituted notwithstanding any vacancy in the office of Lord Chancellor, Lord Chief Justice, President of the Family Division [F2 Vice-Chancellor or Senior Presiding Judge].

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 4(1)(dd) inserted by Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41, SIF 37), s. 72(6)(a)

F2 Words substituted by Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41, SIF 37), s. 72(6)(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Ss. 2(1), 4(1), 12(1)-(6) modified (9.11.1998) by 1998 c. 42, ss. 18(4)(a), 22(2) (with ss. 7(8), 22(5))

C2 S. 4(1)(e) amended by S.I. 1987/2059, art. 3 (maximum number of puisne judges prescribed by s. 4(1)(e) increased from 80 to 85)

S. 4(1)(e) amended (11.5.1993) by S.I. 1993/1255, art.2