(1)For each local justice area there is to be—
(a)a chairman of the lay justices assigned to the area, and
(b)one or more deputy chairmen of those lay justices,
chosen by them from among their number.
(2)Rules may make provision—
(a)subject to subsection (3), as to the term of office of the chairman and deputy chairmen, and
(b)as to the number of deputy chairmen to be elected for any area.
(3)The Lord Chancellor, or a person acting on his behalf, may authorise a lay justice to continue to hold office as chairman or deputy chairman for the purposes of specified proceedings which are, or are expected to be, in progress on the day on which the lay justice’s office would otherwise end.
(4)Any contested election for choosing the chairman or a deputy chairman is to be held by secret ballot.
(5)Rules may make provision for the purposes of this section and may in particular make provision—
(a)about the procedure for nominating candidates for election as a chairman or a deputy chairman;
(b)about the procedure at such an election.