171U.K.The Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984 is amended as follows.
172(1)Section 33 (jurisdiction of county courts in matrimonial cases) is amended as follows.U.K.
(2)In subsections (1) and (4) after “Lord Chancellor may” insert “ , with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice, ”.
(3)After subsection (5) insert—
“(6)The Lord Chief Justice may nominate a judicial office holder (as defined in section 109(4) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005) to exercise his functions under this section.”
173(1)Section 36 (assignment of circuit judges to family proceedings) is amended as follows.U.K.
(2)That section becomes subsection (1) of section 36.
(3)In that subsection, for “Lord Chancellor may direct” substitute “ Lord Chief Justice may, after consulting the Lord Chancellor, direct ”.
(4)After that subsection insert—
“(2)The Lord Chief Justice may nominate a judicial office holder (as defined in section 109(4) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005) to exercise his functions under this section.”
174(1)Section 42 (county court proceedings in principal registry of Family Division) is amended as follows.U.K.
(2)In subsection (2)(a) for “may direct” substitute “ may, after consulting the Lord Chief Justice, direct ”.
(3)After subsection (6) insert—
“(7)The Lord Chief Justice may nominate a judicial office holder (as defined in section 109(4) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005) to exercise his functions under this section.”