(1)The High Court shall consist of—
(a)F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b)the Lord Chief Justice;
[F2(ba)the President of the Queen's Bench Division;
(c)the President of the Family Division;
(d)the Chancellor of the High Court;]
[F3(dd)the Senior Presiding Judge]
[F4(ddd)the vice-president of the Queen’s Bench Division;] and
(e)not more than eighty puisne judges of that court.
(2)The puisne judges of the High Court shall be styled “Justices of the High Court”.
(3)All the judges of the High Court shall, except where this Act expressly provides otherwise, have in all respects equal power, authority and jurisdiction.
(4)Her Majesty may by Order in Council from time to time amend subsection (1) so as to increase or further increase the maximum number of puisne judges of the High Court.
[F5(4A)It is for the Lord Chancellor to recommend to Her Majesty the making of an Order under subsection (4).]
(5)No recommendation shall be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order under subsection (4) unless a draft of the Order has been laid before Parliament and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.
(6)The High Court shall be taken to be duly constituted notwithstanding any vacancy in the office of F6. . . Lord Chief Justice, [F7President of the Queen's Bench Division, President of the Family Division, Chancellor of the High Court][F8or Senior Presiding Judge][F9and whether or not an appointment has been made to the office of vice-president of the Queen’s Bench Division.].
Textual Amendments
F1S. 4(1)(a) repealed (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 146, 148, Sch. 4 para. 117(2)(a), Sch. 18 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 paras. 11(h), 30(b)
F2S. 4(1)(ba)-(d) substituted (1.10.2005) for s. 4(1)(c)(d) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 148, Sch. 4 para. 117(2)(b); S.I. 2005/2505, art. 2(c)
F3S. 4(1)(dd) inserted by Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41, SIF 37), s. 72(6)(a)
F4S. 4(1)(ddd) inserted (27.9.1999) by 1999 c. 22, ss. 69(2)(a), 108(3)(b) (with Sch. 14 para. 7(2))
F5S. 4(4A) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 148, Sch. 4 para. 117(3); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(h)
F6Words in s. 4(6) repealed (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 146, 148, Sch. 4 para. 117(4)(a), Sch. 18 Pt. 2; S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 paras. 11(h), 30(b)
F7Words in s. 4(6) substituted (1.10.2005) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 148, Sch. 4 para. 117(4)(b); S.I. 2005/2505, art. 2(c)
F8Words substituted by Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41, SIF 37), s. 72(6)(b)
F9Words in s. 4(6) inserted (27.9.1999) by 1999 c. 22, ss. 69(2)(b), 108(3)(b) (with Sch. 14 para. 7(2))
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Ss. 2(1), 4(1), 12(1)-(6) modified (9.11.1998) by 1998 c. 42, ss. 18(4)(a), 22(2) (with ss. 7(8), 22(5))
S. 4(1) modified (27.9.1999) by 1999 c. 22, s. 68(3)(c), 108(3)(b) (with Sch. 14 para. 7(2))
C2S. 4(1)(e) amended by S.I. 1987/2059, art. 3 (maximum number of puisne judges prescribed by s. 4(1)(e) increased from 80 to 85)
S. 4(1)(e) amended (11.5.1993) by S.I. 1993/1255, art. 2
S. 4(1)(e) amended (25.11.1999) by S.I. 1999/3138, art. 2
C3S. 4(1)(e) amended (21.3.2003) by The Maximum Number of Judges Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/775), art. 2