Criminal Justice Act 1988

Section 133.

SCHEDULE 12 U.K. Assessors of Compensation for Miscarriages of Justice

1 U.K. A person may only be appointed to be an assessor for the purposes of section 133 above if he is—

[F1 (a) a person who has a 7 year general qualification, within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990;

(b) an advocate or solicitor in Scotland;

(c) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland or [F2 solicitor of the Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland] of at least 7 years’ standing;]

(d) a person who holds or has held judicial office in any part of the United Kingdom; or

(e) a member (whether the chairman or not) of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 12 para. 1(a)–(c) substituted by Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41, SIF 37), s. 71(2), Sch. 10, para. 72(1)

F2 Words in Sch. 12 para. 2 substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 59, 148, Sch. 11 para. 5; S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(d)

2 U.K. A person shall hold and vacate office as an assessor in accordance with the terms of his appointment.

3 U.K. A person shall vacate office as an assessor—

(a) if he ceases to be qualified for appointment as an assessor; or

(b) on attaining the age of 72;

unless the Secretary of State considers that it is in the interests of the efficient operation of section 133 above that he should continue to hold office.

4 U.K. A person may at any time resign his office as an assessor by giving the Secretary of State notice in writing to that effect.

5 U.K. Subject to paragraph 6 below, the Secretary of State may at any time remove a person from office as an assessor if satisfied that—

(a) he has been convicted of a criminal offence;

(b) he has become bankrupt or has had his estate sequestrated or has made an arrangement with, or granted a trust deed for, his creditors;

(c) he is incapacitated by physical or mental illness; or

(d) he is otherwise unable or unfit to perform his duties.

[F3 6 (1) The exercise of the power conferred by paragraph 5 is subject to the following provisions of this paragraph. U.K.

(2) In the case of a person who qualifies for appointment under—

(a) paragraph (1)(a), or

(b) paragraph (1)(d) by virtue of holding or having held judicial office in England and Wales,

that power shall only be exercisable with the consent of the Lord Chancellor, which may only be given with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.

(3) In the case of a person who qualifies for appointment under—

(a) paragraph (1)(b), or

(b) paragraph (1)(d) by virtue of holding or having held judicial office in Scotland,

that power shall only be exercisable with the consent of the Lord President of the Court of Session.

(4) In the case of a person who qualifies for appointment under—

(a) paragraph (1)(c), or

(b) paragraph (1)(d) by virtue of holding or having held judicial office in Northern Ireland,

that power shall only be exercisable with the consent of the Lord Chancellor, which may only be given with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.]

Textual Amendments

F3 Sch. 12 para. 6 substituted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15(1), 148(1), Sch. 4 para. 196; S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 paras. 10, 11(r)

7 U.K. An assessor shall be paid such remuneration and allowances as the Secretary of State may, with the approval of the Treasury, determine.