http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/1980/43

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1980/43/section/23/2011-03-29

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to the jurisdiction of, and the practice and procedure before, magistrates’ courts and the functions of justices’ clerks, and to matters connected therewith, with amendments to give effect to recommendations of the Law Commission.

1980-11-01

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Statute Law Database

2024-10-10

Expert Participation

2011-03-29

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 1(6A)

Criminal Justice Act 2003

Sch. 36

para. 8(5)

s. 336(3)

(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 1(7A)

Criminal Justice Act 2003

Sch. 36

para. 8(6)

s. 336(3)

(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

Sch. 6A (entry)

Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000

Sch. 7

para. 69

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 12(2A)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

s. 4(3)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 12(5A)-(5F)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

s. 4(6)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 17A(1A)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

Sch. 2

para. 6(2)(b)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 17B(1A)-(1F)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

s. 9(2)(b)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 17B(5)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

s. 9(2)(d)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 17BA

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

s. 7

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 17ZA-17ZC

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

s. 6(2)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 18(1)-(1B)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

Sch. 2

para. 6(7)(a)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 18(4A)

(4B)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

Sch. 2

para. 6(7)(b)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 18(6)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

Sch. 2

para. 6(7)(c)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 20(7A)

(7B)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

Sch. 2

para. 6(8)(c)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 22(2A)-(2E)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

Sch. 2

para. 6(9)(a)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 22A(1A)-(1E)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

s. 6(3)(b)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 23(1A)-(1G)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

s. 9(4)(b)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 23(3)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

Sch. 2

para. 6(10)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 23(4)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

s. 9(4)(c)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 23(4)(b)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

Sch. 2

para. 10(2)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 23(4A)

(4B)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

s. 9(4)(d)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 23(5)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

Sch. 2

para. 10(2)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 24A(1A)

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

Sch. 2

para. 6(11)(b)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 24BA

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

s. 9(5)

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 24ZA

24ZB

Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022

s. 8

s. 51(4)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 75A

Crime and Courts Act 2013

s. 26(1)

s. 61(3)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 85(5)

Crime and Courts Act 2013

s. 26(4)

s. 61(3)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 139A

Crime and Courts Act 2013

s. 26(6)

s. 61(3)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 145(1A)

Children, Schools and Families Act 2010

Sch. 3

para. 8(3)

s. 21(8)

s. 29(4)(b)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 145(1A)

Children, Schools and Families Act 2010

Sch. 4

Pt. 2

s. 21(8)

s. 29(4)(b)

Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980

s. 1(6A)

Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015

Sch. 11

para. 3(4)

s. 95(1)

art. 3

Sch. 1

para. 77

Part I Criminal Jurisdiction and Procedure

Offences triable on indictment or summarily

23 Power of court, with consent of legally represented accused, to proceed in his absence.

1

Where—

a

the accused is represented by F1a legal representativewho in his absence signifies to the court the accused’s consent to the proceedings for determining how he is to be tried for the offence being conducted in his absence; and

b

the court is satisfied that there is good reason for proceeding in the absence of the accused,

the following provisions of this section shall apply.

2

Subject to the following provisions of this section, the court may proceed in the absence of the accused in accordance with such of the provisions of sections 19 to 22 above as are applicable in the circumstances.

3

If, in a case where subsection (1) of section 22 above applies, it appears to the court as mentioned in subsection (4) of that section, subsections (5) and (6) of that section shall not apply and the court—

a

if the accused’s consent to be tried summarily has been or is signified by the person representing him, shall proceed in accordance with subsection (2) of that section as if that subsection applied; or

b

if that consent has not been and is not so signified, shall proceed in accordance with subsection (3) of that section as if that subsection applied.

4

If, where the court has considered as required by section l9(1) above, it appears to the court that the offence is more suitable for summary trial then—

a

if the accused’s consent to be tried summarily has been or is signified by the person representing him, section 20 above shall not apply, and the court shall proceed to the summary trial of the information; or

b

if that consent has not been and is not so signified, section 20 above shall not apply and the court shall proceed to inquire into the information as examining justices and may adjourn the hearing without remanding the accused.

5

If, where the court has considered as required by section 19(1) above, it appears to the court that the offence is more suitable for trial on indictment, section 21 above shall not apply, and the court shall proceed to inquire into the information as examining justices and may adjourn the hearing without remanding the accused.