The Magistrates' Courts Committees (Constitution) Regulations 1994

Selection Panel

5.—(1) In this regulation “bench” means the justices assigned to a petty sessions area and shall include a stipendiary magistrate attached to a petty sessions area outside the inner London area.

(2) The justices for each committee area shall establish a selection panel in accordance with the provisions of this regulation, which shall be responsible for selecting the members of the committee for the area.

(3) The clerk to the committee shall act as clerk to the selection panel.

(4) The selection panel shall consist of—

(a) in the case of a committee area containing a single petty sessions area either—

(i) all the members of the bench, or

(ii) four representatives from the bench

as the members of the bench think fit;

(b) in the case of a committee area containing two or three petty sessions areas, two representatives from each bench;

(c) in the case of a committee area containing four or more petty sessions areas, one representative from each bench;

(5) In the case of the inner London area, the selection panel shall consist additionally of one representative from the family panel and one representative from the youth court panel for the area and the Chief Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate or any metropolitan stipendiary magistrate nominated by him.

(6) No justice shall be eligible for appointment to the selection panel if his name will be entered in the supplemental list before the expiry of the period for which he is appointed.

(7) Where paragraphs (4)(a)(ii), (b) or (c) apply, the representatives shall be appointed in such manner as each bench thinks fit, but—

(a) may only remain on the panel while remaining a member of the bench; and

(b) may not be selected as members of the committee during the period of appointment.

(8) A member of the selection panel shall be appointed for one year commencing on 1st January in each year and shall, subject to paragraphs (6) and (7), be eligible for reappointment.

(9) The names of the representatives from each bench shall be notified to the clerk to the selection panel by 31st December in each year.

(10) The members of the selection panel shall choose from amongst themselves a chairman who shall serve until the expiry of his period of appointment to the selection panel.

(11) A quorum of the selection panel shall be constituted by three members.