Courts Act 2003, Section 8 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 06 March 2025. 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.
(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F2S. 8(6)(b) repealed (2.5.2012) by The Public Bodies (Abolition of Courts Boards) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/1206), art. 1(2), Sch.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)
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