Courts Act 1971

Part I E+W Certain Office-Holders to be Circuit Judges

1 (1) On the appointed day the persons then holding office as—

• Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster,

• Recorder of London, and

• Common Serjeant

shall, by virtue of their offices, become Circuit judges.

(2) On the appointed day any person who, immediately before that day, held one of the following judicial offices (being offices to which no further appointments are to be made or which cease by virtue of this Act) shall, by virtue of this paragraph, become a Circuit judge:—

• Official Referee to the Supreme Court

• Recorder of Liverpool

• Recorder of Manchester

• Additional Judge of the Central Criminal Court

• Assistant Judge of the Mayor’s and City of London Court

• County Court Judge

• Whole-time Chairman or whole-time Deputy Chairman of courts of quarter sessions for Greater London, Cheshire, Durham, Kent and Lancashire.

2 (1) Any person who, being appointed Recorder of London after the appointed day, is appointed by Her Majesty to exercise judicial functions shall, by virtue of that appointment, be a Circuit judge. E+W

(2) Any person who after the appointed day is appointed by Her Majesty to be the Common Serjeant shall, by virtue of that appointment, be a Circuit judge.

3 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, section 17 of this Act shall apply to the holder of any judicial office who becomes a Circuit judge as mentioned in this Part of this Schedule as it applies to a Circuit judge appointed under section 16 of this Act.

(2) In the case of any person who becomes a Circuit judge as mentioned in this Part of this Schedule, other than a person who held an office mentioned in paragraph 1(2) above which ceases by virtue of this Act, nothing in section 17 of this Act shall have the effect of depriving him of the office by virtue of which, or by virtue of his appointment to which, he becomes a Circuit judge.