- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Courts Act 2003, Section 8 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 29 August 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
Commencement Orders bringing provisions within this Act into force:
(1)England and Wales is to be divided into areas to be known as local justice areas.
(2)The areas are to be those specified by an order made by the Lord Chancellor.
(3)Each local justice area established by order under subsection (2) is to be known by such name as is specified in the order (but subject to subsection (4)).
(4)The Lord Chancellor may make orders altering local justice areas.
(5)“Altering”, in relation to a local justice area, includes (as well as changing its boundaries)—
(a)combining it with one or more other local justice areas,
(b)dividing it between two or more other local justice areas, and
(c)changing its name.
[F1(5A)Before making any order under subsection (2) or (4), the Lord Chancellor must consult the Lord Chief Justice.]
(6)Before making an order under subsection (4) in relation to a local justice area the Lord Chancellor must consult—
(a)the justices of the peace assigned to the local justice area,
F2(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(c)unless the alteration consists only of a change of name, any local authorities whose area includes the local justice area or a part of the local justice area.
(7)“Local authority” means—
(a)any council of a county, a county borough, a London borough or a council of a district,
(b)the Common Council of the City of London, or
[F3(c)a police and crime commissioner or the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime.]
[F4(8)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.]
Textual Amendments
F1S. 8(5A) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15(1), 148, Sch. 4 para. 312(2); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(y)
F2S. 8(6)(b) repealed (2.5.2012) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of Courts Boards) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/1206), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 6
F3S. 8(7)(c) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 311; S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2 para. 72)
F4S. 8(8) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15(1), 148, Sch. 4 para. 312(3); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(y)
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: