(1)Any business assigned, in accordance with this or any other Act or rules of court, to one or more specially nominated judges of the High Court may—
(a)during vacation; or
(b)during the illness or absence of that judge or any of those judges; or
(c)for any other reasonable cause,
be dealt with by any judge of the High Court named for that purpose [F1by the Lord Chief Justice after consulting the Lord Chancellor].
(2)If at any time it appears to the [F2Lord Chief Justice, after consulting the Lord Chancellor, to be] desirable to do so with a view to the more convenient administration of justice, he may by order direct that business of any description which is for the time being assigned, in accordance with this or any other Act or rules of court, to one or more specially nominated judges of the High Court shall cease to be so assigned and may be dealt with by any one or more judges of the High Court.
(3)An order under subsection (2) shall not be made in respect of any business without the concurrence of the senior judge of the Division to which the business is for the time being assigned.
[F3(4)The Lord Chief Justice may nominate a judicial office holder (as defined in section 109(4) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005) to exercise his functions under subsection (1) or (2).]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 63(1) substituted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 148, Sch. 4 para. 130(2); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(p)
F2Words in s. 63(2) substituted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 148, Sch. 4 para. 130(3); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(p)
F3S. 63(4) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 148, Sch. 4 para. 130(4); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(p)