The Judiciary and the Courts in England and Wales
Section 7: President of the Courts of England and Wales
22.Section 7 provides a new, additional, statutory title of President of the Courts of England and Wales for the Lord Chief Justice. This section also recognises that the Lord Chief Justice is the Head of the Judiciary of England and Wales.
23.The section sets out the responsibilities of the President of the Courts of England and Wales. It also sets out the courts to which the presidency applies. In his role as President of the Courts of England and Wales, the Lord Chief Justice is to be responsible for representing the views of the judiciary of England and Wales to Parliament, the Lord Chancellor and Ministers of the Crown generally. He is also to be responsible, within the resources made available by the Lord Chancellor, for maintaining appropriate arrangements for the welfare, training and guidance of the judiciary of England and Wales, and for maintaining appropriate arrangements for the deployment of the judiciary of England and Wales and allocating work within courts. In relation to the issue of deployment, it should be noted that the Lord Chief Justice will also have a role in the appointment of judicial office holders to committees, boards and similar bodies, as set out in paragraphs 46-49 of the ‘Concordat’; his role in such appointments so far as governed by statute is provided for by amendments made by Schedule 4.
Section 8: Head and Deputy Head of Criminal Justice
24.Section 8 creates a new statutory post of Head of Criminal Justice, which will be held ex officio by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales or, after consultation with the Lord Chancellor , by his nominee. This section also provides that the Lord Chief Justice may appoint a Deputy Head of Criminal Justice. The creation of these new posts mirrors the existing statutory posts of Head and Deputy Head of Civil Justice, established by section 62 of the Courts Act 2003.
Section 9: Head and Deputy Head of Family Justice
25.Section 9 creates a new statutory post of Head of Family Justice, which will be held ex officio by the President of the Family Division. This section also provides that the Lord Chief Justice may appoint a Deputy Head of Family Justice. The creation of these new posts mirrors the existing statutory posts of Head and Deputy Head of Civil Justice, established by section 62 of the Courts Act 2003.