Constitutional Reform Act 2005

69 (1) Section 21 (appointment of Recorders) is amended as follows. U.K.

(2) For subsections (3) and (4) substitute—

“(3) The appointment of a person as a Recorder shall specify the following—

(a) the term for which he is appointed;

(b) the frequency and duration of the occasions during that term on which he will be required to be available to undertake the duties of a Recorder;

(c) the circumstances in which the Lord Chancellor may—

(i) decline to extend the term of the appointment, or

(ii) terminate the appointment,

(other than those in subsection (4C)(a) or (b) and subsection (6)(a) or (b)).

(4) Circumstances may be specified under subsection (3)(c) in an appointment only if the Lord Chief Justice agrees.

(4A) Subject to subsections (4B) to (5), the Lord Chancellor must extend the term of a Recorder's appointment (including a term already extended under this subsection) before its expiry, for such term as the Lord Chancellor thinks appropriate.

(4B) The Lord Chancellor must not extend the term of a Recorder's appointment unless the Recorder agrees to the extension.

(4C) The Lord Chancellor may, with the agreement of the Lord Chief Justice, decline to extend the term of a Recorder's appointment on any of these grounds—

(a) the incapacity or misbehaviour of the Recorder;

(b) a failure of the Recorder to comply with any requirement specified under subsection (3)(b) in the terms of his appointment;

(c) one or more of the circumstances specified under subsection (3)(c) in his appointment applies.”

(3) For subsection (6) substitute—

“(6) The Lord Chancellor may, with the agreement of the Lord Chief Justice, terminate the appointment of a Recorder on any of these grounds—

(a) the incapacity or misbehaviour of the Recorder;

(b) a failure of the Recorder to comply with any requirement specified under subsection (3)(b) in the terms of his appointment;

(c) one or more of the circumstances specified under subsection (3)(c) in his appointment applies.”