Section 70: Reappointment of JPs
388.Subsection (1) makes it clear that a JP is eligible for reappointment on the expiry of his or her five year appointment. A JP who has resigned from office is also eligible to be reappointed.
389.The effect of subsection (2) is that a JP whose five year appointment has finished shall be reappointed unless certain circumstances apply. The subsection also sets out what those circumstances are.
390.Subsection (2)(d) makes it clear that a JP shall not be reappointed if the sheriff principal for the JP's sheriffdom recommends to Scottish Ministers that the JP should not be reappointed. Subsection (3) sets out the grounds on which the sheriff principal may make such a recommendation. They are that the JP has inadequately performed the functions of a JP; that the JP has, without good reason, failed to meet requirements under section 68(2) relating to training, appraisal or availability to meet the business needs of the relevant part of their sheriffdom; that the JP no longer lives within fifteen miles of the sheriffdom to which they are appointed; or on such other ground as the sheriff principal considers relevant (one example of this might be if the JP had been convicted of a number of motor offences during the previous five years).
391.The provision at subsection (3)(a) relating to inadequate performance of the functions of a JP is intended to allow a sheriff principal to recommend against reappointment if, for example, a JP’s appraisals had demonstrated that the JP was not performing adequately.