Courts and Legal Services Act 1990

72 Presiding Judges

(1) For each of the Circuits there shall be at least two Presiding Judges, appointed from among the puisne judges of the High Court.

(2) There shall be a Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales, appointed from among the Lords Justices of Appeal.

(3) Any appointment under subsection (1) or (2) shall be made by the Lord Chief Justice with the agreement of the Lord Chancellor.

(4) In this section “the Circuits” means—

(a) the Midland and Oxford Circuit;

(b) the North Eastern Circuit;

(c) the Northern Circuit;

(d) the South Eastern Circuit;

(e) the Western Circuit; and

(f) the Wales and Chester Circuit,

or such other areas of England and Wales as the Lord Chancellor may from time to time, after consulting the Lord Chief Justice, direct.

(5) A person appointed as a Presiding Judge or as the Senior Presiding Judge shall hold that office in accordance with the terms of his appointment.

(6) In section 4 of the [1981 c. 54.] Supreme Court Act 1981 (composition of High Court)—

(a) in subsection (1), after the words “Vice-Chancellor” there shall be inserted—

“(dd) the Senior Presiding Judge”; and

(b) in subsection (6) for the words “or Vice-Chancellor” there shall be substituted “Vice-Chancellor or Senior Presiding Judge”.