Part 7Sexual Offences Court
Chapter 1Establishment, jurisdiction and Judges of the Sexual Offences Court
Judges of the Sexual Offences Court
74Appointment of Judges of the Sexual Offences Court
(1)
The Lord Justice General may appoint persons holding a relevant judicial office to hold office also as Judges of the Sexual Offences Court.
(2)
The Lord Justice General may appoint a person to the office of Judge of the Sexual Offences Court under this section only if—
(a)
the person has completed (whether before this section comes into force or otherwise) an approved course of training on trauma-informed practice in sexual offence cases, and
(b)
the Lord Justice General considers the person has the skills and experience necessary to fulfil the office.
(3)
Appointment as a Judge of the Sexual Offences Court under this section—
(a)
is for a period of 5 years,
(b)
does not affect a person’s appointment to the relevant judicial office and the person may continue to act in that capacity.
(4)
A person holding office as a Judge of the Sexual Offences Court under this section ceases to hold that office if they cease to hold the relevant judicial office.
(5)
If a person holding office as a Judge of the Sexual Offences Court under this section is suspended from the relevant judicial office they are also suspended from office as a Judge of the Sexual Offences Court.
(6)
In this section, a “relevant judicial office” means—
(a)
sheriff principal,
(b)
sheriff.