Temporary transfer of justices between panels

7.—(1) Subject to paragraph (4), the justices' clerk for one petty sessions area (“the first area”) may make a request to the justices' clerk for another petty sessions area (“the second area”) for the temporary transfer of one or more justices from the panel for the second area to the panel for the first area for the purpose of hearing family proceedings specified in the request.

(2) The justices' clerk for the second area shall grant a request under paragraph (1) where he considers that the better administration of justice will be served by such a transfer, and the justice or justices who are to be nominated by him for the transfer agree to be transferred.

(3) A justices' clerk who grants a request under paragraph (1) shall do so in writing.

(4) Where the first area falls within a different commission area to the second area, a justice or justices shall only be transferred under this rule where the Lord Chancellor appoints the justice or justices who are nominated for the transfer to the commission area within which the first area falls for the purpose of the proceedings specified in the request.

(5) The transfer of a justice or justices under this rule shall not prevent the justice or justices transferred from sitting in a family proceedings court in the second area.