Mental Health Act 1959

Section 3.

FIRST SCHEDULE Mental Health Review Tribunals

1 Each of the Mental Health Review Tribunals shall consist of—

(a) a number of persons (hereinafter referred to as " the legal members") appointed by the Lord Chancellor and having such legal experience as the Lord Chancellor considers suitable ;

(b) a number of persons (hereinafter referred to as " the medical members") being medical practitioners appointed by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Minister ; and

(c) a number of persons appointed by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Minister and having such experience in administration, such knowledge of social services or such other qualifications or experience as the Lord Chancellor considers suitable.

2 The members of Mental Health Review Tribunals shall hold and vacate office under the terms of the instrument under which they are appointed, but may resign office by notice in writing to the Lord Chancellor ; and any such member who ceases to hold office shall be eligible for re-appointment.

3 One of the legal members of each Mental Health Review Tribunal shall be appointed by the Lord Chancellor as chairman of the Tribunal.

4 Subject to rules made by the Lord Chancellor under paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section one hundred and twenty-four of this Act, the members who are to constitute a Mental Health Review Tribunal for the purposes of any proceedings or class or group of proceedings under this Act shall be appointed by the chairman of that Tribunal or, if for any reason he is unable to act, by another member of that Tribunal appointed for the purpose by the chairman ; and of the members so appointed—

(a) one or more shall be appointed from the legal members;

(b) one or more shall be appointed from the medical members; and

(c) one or more shall be appointed from the members who are neither legal nor medical members.

5 A member of a Mental Health Review Tribunal for any area may be appointed under paragraph 4 of this Schedule as one of the persons to constitute a Mental Health Review Tribunal for any other area for the purposes of any proceedings or class or group of proceedings ; and for the purposes of this Act, a person so appointed shall, in relation to the proceedings for which he was appointed, be deemed to be a member of that other Tribunal.

6 Where the chairman of the Tribunal is included among the persons appointed under paragraph 4 of this Schedule, he shall be president of the Tribunal; and in any other case the president of the Tribunal shall be such one of the members so appointed (being one of the legal members) as the chairman may nominate.