374U.K.The Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 is amended as follows.
375(1)Section 67 (family proceedings courts and panels) is amended as follows.U.K.
(2)In subsection (2)(a) for “by the Lord Chancellor” substitute “ by the Lord Chief Justice, after consulting the Lord Chancellor, ”.
(3)In subsection (5) for “on the Lord Chancellor” substitute “ , exercisable by the Lord Chancellor with the concurrence of the Lord Chief Justice, ”.
(4)After subsection (8) insert—
“(9)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 (2)(a).”
(5)In relation to the enactment referred to in this paragraph, the original amending provision is section 49(1) of the Courts Act 2003.
376(1)Section 68 (combined family panels) is amended as follows.U.K.
(2)In subsection (2), after “thinks fit” insert “ after consulting the Lord Chief Justice ”.
(3)After subsection (6) insert—
“(6A)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 this section.”
(4)In relation to the enactment referred to in this paragraph, the original amending provision is section 49(2) of the Courts Act 2003 (c. 39).
377(1)In section 146 (rules relating to youth court panels and composition of youth court), in subsection (2) for “Lord Chancellor” substitute “ Lord Chief Justice ”.U.K.
(2)After subsection (5) insert—
“(6)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 powers under rules made under this section.”
(3)In relation to the enactment referred to in this paragraph, the original amending provision is section 50(3) of the Courts Act 2003.