The Family Proceedings Courts (Constitution) (Metropolitan Area) Rules 1991

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules, which only apply in the inner London area and the City of London, are made as a consequence of the introduction, by the Children Act 1989, of family proceedings in magistrates' courts which, from 14th October 1991, replace domestic proceedings and thereby create a need for family panels to be constituted in place of domestic court panels.

Rule 4 provides that there shall be one family panel for the inner London area and the City of London to which justices shall be nominated by the Lord Chancellor. This Rule also specifies the length of their term of service and that of future members of the panel. The Lord Chancellor may nominate one or more metropolitan stipendiary magistrates to the panel.

Rule 5 sets out the eligibility requirements for appointment to the panel and enables the Lord Chancellor to remove from a panel any unsuitable justice.

Rule 7 provides for the composition and chairmanship of family proceedings courts.

These Rules revoke the Domestic Courts (Constitution) (Inner London) Rules 1979 and relevant amending statutory instruments. Nothing in these Rules affects any proceedings which are pending (within the meaning of paragraph 1 of Schedule 14 to the Act of 1989) immediately before these Rules come into force. These Rules shall come into force on 14th October 1991 except that for the purposes of rules 4(1) and (4) and 7(3) they shall come into force on 12th August 1991.