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Senior Courts Act 1981, Section 4 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 17 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.
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(1)The High Court shall consist of—
(a)the Lord Chancellor;
(b)the Lord Chief Justice;
(c)the President of the Family Division;
(d)the Vice-Chancellor
[F1(dd)the Senior Presiding Judge]
[F2(ddd)the vice-president of the Queen’s Bench Division;] and
(e)not more than eighty puisne judges of that court.
(2)The puisne judges of the High Court shall be styled “Justices of the High Court”.
(3)All the judges of the High Court shall, except where this Act expressly provides otherwise, have in all respects equal power, authority and jurisdiction.
(4)Her Majesty may by Order in Council from time to time amend subsection (1) so as to increase or further increase the maximum number of puisne judges of the High Court.
(5)No recommendation shall be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order under subsection (4) unless a draft of the Order has been laid before Parliament and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.
(6)The High Court shall be taken to be duly constituted notwithstanding any vacancy in the office of Lord Chancellor, Lord Chief Justice, President of the Family Division [F3Vice-Chancellor or Senior Presiding Judge][F4and whether or not an appointment has been made to the office of vice-president of the Queen’s Bench Division.].
Textual Amendments
F1S. 4(1)(dd) inserted by Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41, SIF 37), s. 72(6)(a)
F2S. 4(1)(ddd) inserted (27.9.1999) by 1999 c. 22, ss. 69(2)(a), 108(3)(b) (with Sch. 14 para. 7(2))
F3Words substituted by Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41, SIF 37), s. 72(6)(b)
F4Words in s. 4(6) inserted (27.9.1999) by 1999 c. 22, ss. 69(2)(b), 108(3)(b) (with Sch. 14 para. 7(2))
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Ss. 2(1), 4(1), 12(1)-(6) modified (9.11.1998) by 1998 c. 42, ss. 18(4)(a), 22(2) (with ss. 7(8), 22(5))
S. 4(1) modified (27.9.1999) by 1999 c. 22, s. 68(3)(c), 108(3)(b) (with Sch. 14 para. 7(2))
C2S. 4(1)(e) amended by S.I. 1987/2059, art. 3 (maximum number of puisne judges prescribed by s. 4(1)(e) increased from 80 to 85)
S. 4(1)(e) amended (11.5.1993) by S.I. 1993/1255, art. 2
S. 4(1)(e) amended (25.11.1999) by S.I. 1999/3138, art. 2
C3S. 4(1)(e) amended (21.3.2003) by The Maximum Number of Judges Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/775), art. 2
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