Constitutional Reform Act 2005

District Judges

2 (1) For sections 100 and 101 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 (c. 54) substitute—

“100 District judges

(1) The Lord Chief Justice, after consulting the Lord Chancellor—

(a) may assign a district judge to one or more district registries;

(b) may change an assignment so as to assign the district judge to a different district registry or registries (or to no district registry).

(2) A reference in any enactment or other instrument to the district judge of a district registry is a reference to any district judge assigned to the registry concerned.

(3) Every district judge is, by virtue of his office, capable of acting in any district registry whether or not assigned to it, but may do so only in accordance with arrangements made by or on behalf of the Lord Chief Justice.

(4) Whilst a district judge is assigned to one or more district registries in accordance with subsection (1) he is a district judge of the High Court.”

(2) That section as substituted applies to a district judge holding office by virtue of an appointment made before the commencement of sub-paragraph (1) as if he had been assigned to the district registry or registries for which he was appointed.

(3) In section 102 of that Act (deputy district judges) for subsection (4) substitute—

“(4) A person appointed to be a deputy district judge in a district registry has, while acting under this section, the same jurisdiction as a district judge assigned to that registry.”