Courts Act 2003

77 Family Procedure Rule Committee E+W

(1) The Family Procedure Rule Committee is to consist of—

(a) the President of the Family Division, and

[F1 (b) the persons currently appointed in accordance with subsections (1A) and (1B).]

[F2 (1A) The Lord Chief Justice must appoint the persons falling within paragraphs (a) to (f) of subsection (2).

(1B) The Lord Chancellor must appoint the persons falling within paragraphs (g) to (o) of subsection (2).]

(2) [F3 The persons to be appointed in accordance with subsections (1A) and (1B) are]—

(a) two judges of the [F4 Senior Courts] , at least one of whom must be a puisne judge attached to the Family Division,

(b) one Circuit judge,

(c) one district judge of the principal registry of the Family Division,

(d) one district judge appointed under section 6 of the County Courts Act 1984 (c. 28),

(e) one District Judge (Magistrates' Courts),

(f) one lay justice,

(g) one justices' clerk,

(h) one person who has—

(i) a [F4 Senior Courts] qualification, and

(ii) particular experience of family practice in the High Court,

(i) one person who has—

(i) a [F4 Senior Courts] qualification, and

(ii) particular experience of family practice in county courts,

(j) one person who has—

(i) a [F4 Senior Courts] qualification, and

(ii) particular experience of family practice in magistrates' courts,

(k) one person who—

(i) has been [F5 authorised by a relevant approved regulator] to conduct litigation in relation to all proceedings in the [F4 Senior Courts] , and

(ii) has particular experience of family practice in the High Court,

(l) one person who—

(i) has been so [F6 authorised] , and

(ii) has particular experience of family practice in county courts,

(m) one person who—

(i) has been so [F6 authorised] , and

(ii) has particular experience of family practice in magistrates' courts,

(n) one person nominated by CAFCASS, and

(o) one person with experience in and knowledge of the lay advice sector or the system of justice in relation to family proceedings.

(3) Before appointing a person [F7 in accordance with subsection (1A), the Lord Chief Justice must consult the Lord Chancellor and] the President of the Family Division.

(4) F8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5) Before appointing a person [F9 in accordance with subsection (1B), the Lord Chancellor must consult the Lord Chief Justice and, if the person falls within any of paragraphs (h) to (m) of subsection (2), must also consult] any body which—

(a) has members eligible for appointment under the provision in question, and

[F10 (b) is a relevant approved regulator in relation to the exercise of a right of audience or the conduct of litigation (or both).]

(6) The Lord Chancellor may reimburse the members of the Family Procedure Rule Committee their travelling and out-of-pocket expenses.

[F11 (7) 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.]

[F12 (8) In this section “relevant approved regulator” is to be construed in accordance with section 20(3) of the Legal Services Act 2007.]

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 77(1)(b) substituted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 15, Sch. 4 para. 339(2); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(aa)

F2 S. 77(1A)(1B) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 15, Sch. 4 para. 339(3); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(aa)

F3 Words in s. 77(2) substituted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 15, Sch. 4 para. 339(4); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(aa)

F4 Words in s. 77 substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 59, 148, Sch. 11 para. 4; S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2

F5 Words in s. 77(2)(k) substituted (1.1.2010) by Legal Services Act 2007 (c. 29), ss. 208, 211, Sch. 21 para. 144(2)(a) (with ss. 29, 192, 193); S.I. 2009/3250, art. 2(h) (with art. 9)

F6 Words in s. 77(2)(l)(m) substituted (1.1.2010) by Legal Services Act 2007 (c. 29), ss. 208, 211, Sch. 21 para. 144(2)(b)(c) (with ss. 29, 192, 193); S.I. 2009/3250, art. 2(h) (with art. 9)

F7 S. 77(3) substituted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 15, Sch. 4 para. 339(5); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(aa)

F8 S. 77(4) repealed (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 146, Sch. 4 para. 339(6), Sch. 18 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 paras. 11(aa), 30(b)

F9 Words in s. 77(5) substituted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 15, Sch. 4 para. 339(7); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(aa)

F10 S. 77(5)(b) substituted (1.1.2010) by Legal Services Act 2007 (c. 29), ss. 208, 211, Sch. 21 para. 144(3) (with ss. 29, 192, 193); S.I. 2009/3250, art. 2(h) (with art. 9)

F11 S. 77(7) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), s. 15, Sch. 4 para. 339(8); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(aa)

F12 S. 77(8) inserted (1.1.2010) by Legal Services Act 2007 (c. 29), ss. 208, 211, Sch. 21 para. 144(4) (with ss. 19, 192, 193); S.I. 2009/3250, art. 2(h) (with art. 9)