Constitutional Reform Act 2005

85 Selection of puisne judges and other office holders U.K.

(1) Sections 86 to [F1 88] apply to—

(a) a recommendation for an appointment to the office of puisne judge of the High Court;

(b) a recommendation for an appointment to an office listed in Part 1 of Schedule 14 in exercise of Her Majesty's function under the enactment listed opposite that office;

(c) an appointment to an office listed in [F2 Table 1 of] Part 2 or 3 of that Schedule in exercise of the Lord Chancellor's function under the enactment listed opposite that office.

[F3 (d) an appointment to an office listed in Table 2 of Part 2 of that Schedule in exercise of the Lord Chief Justice's function under the enactment listed opposite that office;

(e) an appointment to an office listed in Table 2 of Part 3 of that Schedule in exercise of the function of the Senior President of Tribunals under the enactment listed opposite that office.]

(2) Any such recommendation or appointment must be made in accordance with those sections and section [F4 94C and regulations made under it].

[F5 (2A) This section is subject to—

F6 (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) [F7 section 91(1ZB)] of the Supreme Court Act 1981,

F8 (c) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F9 (d) section 94AA below.]

(3) The Lord Chancellor may by order make any of the following amendments to Schedule 14—

(a) an amendment which adds a reference to an enactment under which appointments are made to an office;

(b) an amendment which adds a reference to an office to which appointments are made under an enactment;

(c) an amendment consequential on the abolition or change of name of an office;

(d) an amendment consequential on the substitution of one or more enactments for an enactment under which appointments are made to an office.

[F10 (4) The Lord Chancellor may by order amend section F11 ... [F12 94AA] F13 ... if he thinks that the amendment is consequential on an amendment made to Schedule 14 by an order under subsection (3).]

[F14 (5) The Lord Chancellor may by order provide that this section does not apply to appointments to an office listed in Schedule 14 that is specified in the order.

(6) An office may not be specified in an order under subsection (5) if—

(a) the provisions governing appointment to the office provide that a person is eligible for appointment only where the person satisfies the single condition specified in the provisions, and

(b) that condition is one of the conditions listed in subsection (8).

(7) An office may not be specified in an order under subsection (5) if—

(a) the provisions governing appointment to the office provide that a person is eligible for appointment only where the person satisfies one or some other particular number or all, or at least one or at least some other particular number, of several conditions specified in the provisions, and

(b) at least one of the conditions specified in the provisions is listed in subsection (8).

(8) The conditions are—

(a) that the person satisfies the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on an N-year basis (where N is a particular number);

(b) that the person is a solicitor in Scotland of at least a particular number of years' standing;

(c) that the person is an advocate in Scotland of at least a particular number of years' standing;

(d) that the person is a solicitor in Northern Ireland of at least a particular number of years' standing;

(e) that the person is a barrister in Northern Ireland of at least a particular number of years' standing.

(9) Before making an order under subsection (5) the Lord Chancellor must consult the Lord Chief Justice, the Lord President of the Court of Session and the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.

(10) An order under subsection (5)—

(a) may make different provision for different purposes;

(b) may make consequential, transitory, transitional or saving provision.]]

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in s. 85(1) substituted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 13 para. 64(2)(a); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(e) (with savings in S.I. 2013/2192, regs. 48, 49)

F2 Words in s. 85(1)(c) inserted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 13 para. 64(2)(b); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(e) (with savings in S.I. 2013/2192, regs. 48, 49)

F3 S. 85(1)(d)(e) inserted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 13 para. 64(2)(c); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(e) (with savings in S.I. 2013/2192, regs. 48, 49)

F4 Words in s. 85(2) substituted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 13 para. 64(3); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(e) (with savings in S.I. 2013/2192, regs. 48, 49)

F5 S. 85(2A) inserted (19.7.2007) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), s. 53(3)

F6 S. 85(2A)(a) omitted (10.3.2022 for specified purposes, 1.10.2022 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (c. 7), s. 131(1)(4)(c), Sch. 4 para. 11(2)(a)(i); S.I. 2022/1014, reg. 2(d) (with reg. 3)

F7 Words in s. 85(2A)(b) substituted (10.3.2022 for specified purposes, 1.10.2022 in so far as not already in force) by Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (c. 7), s. 131(1)(4)(c), Sch. 4 para. 11(2)(a)(ii); S.I. 2022/1014, reg. 2(d) (with reg. 3)

F8 S. 85(2A)(c) omitted (10.3.2022 for specified purposes, 1.10.2022 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (c. 7), s. 131(1)(4)(c), Sch. 4 para. 11(2)(a)(i); S.I. 2022/1014, reg. 2(d) (with reg. 3)

F9 S. 85(2A)(d) substituted (10.3.2022 for specified purposes, 1.10.2022 in so far as not already in force) by Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (c. 7), s. 131(1)(4)(c), Sch. 4 para. 11(2)(a)(iii); S.I. 2022/1014, reg. 2(d) (with reg. 3)

F10 S. 85(4) inserted (19.7.2007) by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), s. 53(4)

F11 Word in s. 85(4) omitted (10.3.2022 for specified purposes, 1.10.2022 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (c. 7), s. 131(1)(4)(c), Sch. 4 para. 11(2)(b)(i); S.I. 2022/1014, reg. 2(d) (with reg. 3)

F12 Word in s. 85(4) inserted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 14 para. 3(4); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(g)

F13 Words in s. 85(4) omitted (10.3.2022 for specified purposes, 1.10.2022 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Act 2022 (c. 7), s. 131(1)(4)(c), Sch. 4 para. 11(2)(b)(ii); S.I. 2022/1014, reg. 2(d) (with reg. 3)

F14 S. 85(5)-(10) inserted (1.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(3), Sch. 13 para. 64(4); S.I. 2013/2200, art. 3(e) (with savings in S.I. 2013/2192, regs. 48, 49)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 85 excluded (19.7.2009) by Supreme Court Act 1981 (c. 54), s. 91(1ZB) (as inserted by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), ss. 57(3))

C2 S. 85 excluded (19.9.2009) by Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1951 (c. 46), s. 30(4) (as inserted by Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (c. 15), ss. 58(3); S.I. 2007/2709, art. 2(a))

Commencement Information

I1 S. 85 wholly in force at 2.4.2007; s. 85 not in force at Royal Assent see s. 148; s. 85(3) in force 1.10.2005 by S.I. 2005/2505; s. 85(1)(b)(c)(2) in force at 3.4.2006 by S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 19; s. 85(1)(a) in force at 2.4.2007 by S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(b), Sch. 2 para. 2