http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1981/552/part/22The Magistrates' Courts Rules 1981enMAGISTRATES' COURTS;PROCEDUREStatute Law Database2025-04-10Expert Participation2024-04-08 These Rules consolidate, with some minor amendments, the various Rules relating to procedure in magistrates' courts specified in the Schedule to these Rules. The Magistrates' Courts Rules 1981Table of ContentsThe Magistrates' Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2005Sch. 1 para. 3(a)rule 1(2)The Magistrates' Courts Rules 1981Table of ContentsThe Magistrates' Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2005Sch. 1 para. 3(b)rule 1(2)The Magistrates' Courts Rules 1981Table of ContentsThe Magistrates' Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2003rule 10(a)rule 1The Magistrates' Courts Rules 1981Table of ContentsThe Magistrates' Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2003rule 10(b)rule 1The Magistrates' Courts Rules 1981Table of ContentsThe Magistrates' Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2003rule 10(c)rule 1The Magistrates' Courts Rules 1981Table of ContentsThe Magistrates' Courts (Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2003rule 10(d)rule 1 761An application under section 111(1) of the Act of 1980 shall be made in writing and signed by or on behalf of the applicant and shall identify the question or questions of law or jurisdiction on which the opinion of the High Court is sought.2Where one of the questions on which the opinion of the High Court is sought is whether there was evidence on which the magistrates' court could come to its decision, the particular finding of fact made by the magistrates' court which it is claimed cannot be supported by the evidence before the magistrates' court shall be specified in such application.3Any such application shall be sent to the designated officer for the magistrates' court whose decision is questioned.771Within 21 days after receipt of an application made in accordance with rule 76, the designated officer for the magistrates' court whose decision is questioned shall, unless the justices refuse to state a case under section 111(5) of the Act of 1980, send a draft case in which are stated the matters required under rule 81 to the applicant or his solicitor and shall send a copy thereof to the respondent or his solicitor.2Within 21 days after receipt of the draft case under paragraph (1), each party may make representations thereon. Any such representations shall be in writing and signed by or on behalf of the party making them and shall be sent to the designated officer.3Where the justices refuse to state a case under section 111(5) of the Act and they are required by the High Court by order of mandamus under section 111(6) to do so, this rule shall apply as if in paragraph (1)—afor the words “receipt of an application made in accordance with rule 76” there were substituted the words “the date on which an order of mandamus under section 111(6) of the Act of 1980 is made”; andbthe words “unless the justices refuse to state a case under section 111(5) of the Act of 1980” were omitted.781Within 21 days after the latest day on which representations may be made under rule 77, the justices whose decision is questioned shall make such adjustments, if any, to the draft case prepared for the purposes of that rule as they think fit, after considering any such representations, and shall state and sign the case.2A case may be stated on behalf of the justices whose decision is questioned by any 2 or more of them and may, if the justices so direct, be signed on their behalf by a justices’ legal adviser.3Forthwith after the case has been stated and signed the designated officer for the court shall send it to the applicant or his solicitor, together with any statement required by rule 79.791If the designated officer for a magistrates' court is unable to send to the applicant a draft case under paragraph (1) of rule 77 within the time required by that paragraph, he shall do so as soon as practicable thereafter and the provisions of that rule shall apply accordingly; but in that event the designated officer shall attach to the draft case, and to the final case when it is sent to the applicant or his solicitor under rule 78(3), a statement of the delay and the reasons therefor.2If the designated officer for a magistrates' court receives an application in writing from or on behalf of the applicant or the respondent for an extension of the time within which representations on the draft case may be made under paragraph (2) of rule 77, together with reasons in writing therefor, a justices’ legal adviser may by notice in writing sent to the applicant or respondent as the case may by the designated officer be extend the time and the provisions of that paragraph and of rule 78 shall apply accordingly; but in that event the designated officer shall attach to the final case, when it is sent to the applicant or his solicitor under rule 78(3), a statement of the extension and the reasons therefor.3If the justices are unable to state a case within the time required by paragraph (1) of rule 78, they shall do so as soon as practicable thereafter and the provisions of that rule shall apply accordingly; but in that event the designated officer shall attach to the final case, when it is sent to the applicant or his solicitor under rule 78(3), a statement of the delay and the reasons therefor.80Any document required by rules 76 to 79 to be sent to any person shall, either be delivered to him or be sent by post in a registered letter or by recorded delivery service and, if sent by post to an applicant or respondent, shall be addressed to him at his last known or usual place of abode.811A case stated by the magistrates' court shall state the facts found by the court and the question or questions of law or jurisdiction on which the opinion of the High Court is sought.2Where one of the questions on which the opinion of the High Court is sought is whether there was evidence on which the magistrates' court could come to its decision, the particular finding of fact which it is claimed cannot be supported by the evidence before the magistrates' court shall be specified in the case.3Unless one of the questions on which the opinion of the High Court is sought is whether there was evidence on which the magistrates' court could come to its decision, the case shall not contain a statement of evidence.81A1This rule applies in relation to a magistrates’ court, including a youth court, which—acomprises a lay justice or lay justices; andbagrees to state a case.2A justices’ legal adviser must assist the court by—apreparing and amending the draft case; andbcompleting the case stated.Rule 79 in force at 6.7.1981, see rule 1(1)Rule 80 in force at 6.7.1981, see rule 1(1)Rule 81 in force at 6.7.1981, see rule 1(1)Rule 76 in force at 6.7.1981, see rule 1(1)Rule 77 in force at 6.7.1981, see rule 1(1)Rule 78 in force at 6.7.1981, see rule 1(1)Words in rule 76(3) substituted (1.4.2001) by The Magistrates' Courts (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/610), rules 1, 3Words in rule 77(1) substituted (1.4.2001) by The Magistrates' Courts (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/610), rules 1, 3Words in rule 77(2) substituted (1.4.2001) by The Magistrates' Courts (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/610), rules 1, 5Words in rule 78(3) substituted (1.4.2001) by The Magistrates' Courts (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/610), rules 1, 3Words in rule 79(2) substituted (1.4.2001) by The Magistrates' Courts (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/610), rules 1, 3Words in rule 79(2) substituted (1.4.2001) by The Magistrates' Courts (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/610), rules 1, 7Words in rule 79(2) substituted (1.4.2001) by The Magistrates' Courts (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/610), rules 1, 17Words in rule 79(2) inserted (1.4.2001) by The Magistrates' Courts (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/610), rules 1, 17Words in rule 79(1) substituted (1.4.2001) by The Magistrates' Courts (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/610), rules 1, 3Words in rule 79(1) substituted (1.4.2001) by The Magistrates' Courts (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/610), rules 1, 7Words in rule 79(3) substituted (1.4.2001) by The Magistrates' Courts (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2001 (S.I. 2001/610), rules 1, 5Words in Rules substituted (1.4.2005) by The Courts Act 2003 (Consequential Provisions) (No. 2) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/617), art. 1, Sch. para. 85Rule 78 replaced (4.4.2005) by The Criminal Procedure Rules 2005 (S.I. 2005/384), rule 64.3 (with rule 2.1); [Editorial note: This rule, the substance of which is reproduced in and referred to by the Criminal Procedure Rules, is revoked when those Rules come into force by virtue of the provisions of 2003 c. 39, S.I. 2004/2066 and S.I. 2004/2035, see CrimPR rule 2.1 note.]Rule 79 replaced (4.4.2005) by The Criminal Procedure Rules 2005 (S.I. 2005/384), rule 64.4 (with rule 2.1); [Editorial note: This rule, the substance of which is reproduced in and referred to by the Criminal Procedure Rules, is revoked when those Rules come into force by virtue of the provisions of 2003 c. 39, S.I. 2004/2066 and S.I. 2004/2035, see CrimPR rule 2.1 note.]Rule 76 replaced (4.4.2005) by The Criminal Procedure Rules 2005 (S.I. 2005/384), rule 64.1 (with rule 2.1); [Editorial note: This rule, the substance of which is reproduced in and referred to by the Criminal Procedure Rules, is revoked when those Rules come into force by virtue of the provisions of 2003 c. 39, S.I. 2004/2066 and S.I. 2004/2035, see CrimPR rule 2.1 note.]Rule 77 replaced (4.4.2005) by The Criminal Procedure Rules 2005 (S.I. 2005/384), rule 64.2 (with rule 2.1); [Editorial note: This rule, the substance of which is reproduced in and referred to by the Criminal Procedure Rules, is revoked when those Rules come into force by virtue of the provisions of 2003 c. 39, S.I. 2004/2066 and S.I. 2004/2035, see CrimPR rule 2.1 note.]Rule 80 replaced (4.4.2005) by The Criminal Procedure Rules 2005 (S.I. 2005/384), rule 64.5 (with rule 2.1); [Editorial note: This rule, the substance of which is reproduced in and referred to by the Criminal Procedure Rules, is revoked when those Rules come into force by virtue of the provisions of 2003 c. 39, S.I. 2004/2066 and S.I. 2004/2035, see CrimPR rule 2.1 note.]Rule 81 replaced (4.4.2005) by The Criminal Procedure Rules 2005 (S.I. 2005/384), rule 64.6 (with rule 2.1); [Editorial note: This rule, the substance of which is reproduced in and referred to by the Criminal Procedure Rules, is revoked when those Rules come into force by virtue of the provisions of 2003 c. 39, S.I. 2004/2066 and S.I. 2004/2035, see CrimPR rule 2.1 note.]Words in rule 78(2) substituted (28.6.2021) by The Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/626), rules 1(1), 2(10)Words in rule 79(2) substituted (28.6.2021) by The Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2021 (S.I. 2021/626), rules 1(1), 2(11)Rule 81A inserted (8.4.2024) by The Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules 2024 (S.I. 2024/254), rules 1(2), 2(11)