http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/39/section/8/2012-01-16Courts Act 2003An Act to make provision about the courts and their procedure and practice; about judges and magistrates; about fines and the enforcement processes of the courts; about periodical payments of damages; and for connected purposes.texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-10-14Expert Participation2012-01-16 Courts Act 2003specified provision(s)The Courts Act 2003 (Commencement No. 9, Savings, Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order 2005art. 2commencement order for 2003 c. 39. Effect not applied to legislation.gov.uk. This S.I. is revoked (23.3.2005) by S.I. 2005/910, art. 2Courts Act 2003Sch. 5 para. 13(1)(ca)Crime and Courts Act 2013s. 26(3)s. 61(3)Courts Act 2003s. 85EA(5)Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022Sch. 11 para. 29s. 208(1)Courts Act 2003s. 8Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022s. 45(2)s. 51(4)Courts Act 2003s. 75(6)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022Sch. 4 para. 3(2)s. 51(4)Courts Act 2003s. 81(6)Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022Sch. 4 para. 3(3)s. 51(4)Courts Act 2003s. 3(3)(c) and wordPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026Deddf Cynllunio (Darpariaethau Canlyniadol) (Cymru) 2026Sch. 2 para. 346(b)Sch. 5 Pt. 1s. 5(2)Courts Act 2003Sch. 5 para. 1(1A)Crime and Policing Act 2026Sch. 21 para. 21(2)(b)s. 255(1)Courts Act 2003Sch. 5 para. 2(1A)Crime and Policing Act 2026Sch. 21 para. 21(3)(b)s. 255(1)Courts Act 2003Sch. 5 para. 3(1)(da)Crime and Policing Act 2026Sch. 21 para. 21(4)s. 255(1)Courts Act 2003Sch. 5 para. 7(2A)Crime and Policing Act 2026Sch. 21 para. 21(5)(b)s. 255(1)Courts Act 2003s. 76(2B)Children, Schools and Families Act 2010Sch. 3 para. 14s. 21(8) 27s. 29(4)(b) Part 2 81England and Wales is to be divided into areas to be known as local justice areas.2The areas are to be those specified by an order made by the Lord Chancellor.3Each local justice area established by order under subsection (2) is to be known by such name as is specified in the order (but subject to subsection (4)).4The Lord Chancellor may make orders altering local justice areas.5“Altering”, in relation to a local justice area, includes (as well as changing its boundaries)—acombining it with one or more other local justice areas,bdividing it between two or more other local justice areas, andcchanging its name.5ABefore making any order under subsection (2) or (4), the Lord Chancellor must consult the Lord Chief Justice.6Before making an order under subsection (4) in relation to a local justice area the Lord Chancellor must consult—athe justices of the peace assigned to the local justice area,bany courts board whose area includes the local justice area or a part of the local justice area, andcunless the alteration consists only of a change of name, any local authorities whose area includes the local justice area or a part of the local justice area.7“Local authority” means—aany council of a county, a county borough, a London borough or a council of a district,bthe Common Council of the City of London, orca police and crime commissioner or the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime.8The 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.S. 8(5A) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15(1), 148, Sch. 4 para. 312(2); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(y)S. 8(8) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15(1), 148, Sch. 4 para. 312(3); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 11(y)S. 8(7)(c) substituted (16.1.2012) by Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 (c. 13), s. 157(1), Sch. 16 para. 311; S.I. 2011/3019, art. 3, Sch. 1 (with Sch. 2 para. 72)