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Criminal Justice and Courts BillPage 40

(2) No certificate may be granted under section 37A in respect of a decision
or order of the Appeal Tribunal in any proceedings where, by virtue of
any enactment, no appeal would lie from a decision of the Court of
Appeal on that decision or order of the Appeal Tribunal to the Supreme
5Court, with or without the leave or permission of the Court of Appeal
or the Supreme Court.

(3) Where no appeal would lie to the Court of Appeal from the decision or
order of the Appeal Tribunal except with the leave or permission of the
Appeal Tribunal or the Court of Appeal, no certificate may be granted
10under section 37A in respect of a decision or order of the Appeal
Tribunal unless it appears to the Appeal Tribunal that it would be a
proper case for granting leave or permission to appeal to the Court of
Appeal.

(4) No certificate may be granted under section 37A where the decision or
15order of the Appeal Tribunal is made in the exercise of its jurisdiction
to punish for contempt.

37 Appeals from the Special Immigration Appeals Commission to the Supreme
Court

(1) The Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act 1997 is amended as follows.

(2) 20Before section 8 insert—

7B Appeals to Supreme Court: grant of certificate by Commission

(1) If the Special Immigration Appeals Commission is satisfied that—

(a) the conditions in subsection (4) or (5) are fulfilled in relation to
a final determination to which section 7(1) or (1A) applies, and

(b) 25in respect of that final determination, a sufficient case for an
appeal to the Supreme Court has been made out to justify an
application under section 7C,

the Commission may grant a certificate to that effect.

(2) The Commission may grant a certificate under this section only on an
30application made by a party to the appeal or review to which the final
determination relates.

(3) The Commission may not grant a certificate under this section if the
final determination is made by the Commission in Scotland.

(4) The conditions in this subsection are that a point of law of general
35public importance is involved in the final determination and that point
of law is—

(a) a point of law that—

(i) relates wholly or mainly to the construction of an
enactment or statutory instrument, and

(ii) 40has been fully argued in the proceedings on the appeal
or review to which the final determination relates and
fully considered in the judgment of the Commission, or

(b) a point of law—

(i) in respect of which the Commission is bound by a
45decision of the appropriate appeal court or the Supreme
Court in previous proceedings, and

Criminal Justice and Courts BillPage 41

(ii) that was fully considered in the judgments given by the
appropriate appeal court or, as the case may be, the
Supreme Court in those previous proceedings.

(5) The conditions in this subsection are that a point of law of general
5public importance is involved in the final determination and that—

(a) the proceedings entail a decision relating to a matter of national
importance or consideration of such a matter,

(b) the result of the proceedings is so significant (whether
considered on its own or together with other proceedings or
10likely proceedings) that, in the opinion of the Commission, a
hearing by the Supreme Court is justified, or

(c) the Commission is satisfied that the benefits of earlier
consideration by the Supreme Court outweigh the benefits of
consideration by the Court of Appeal.

(6) 15No appeal lies against the grant or refusal of a certificate under
subsection (1).

7C Appeals to Supreme Court: permission to appeal

(1) If the Special Immigration Appeals Commission grants a certificate
under section 7B in relation to a final determination, a party to the
20appeal or review to which the final determination relates may apply to
the Supreme Court for permission to appeal directly to the Supreme
Court.

(2) An application under subsection (1) must be made—

(a) within one month from the date on which that certificate is
25granted, or

(b) within such time as the Supreme Court may allow in a
particular case.

(3) If on such an application it appears to the Supreme Court to be
expedient to do so, the Supreme Court may grant permission for such
30an appeal.

(4) If permission is granted under this section—

(a) no appeal from the final determination to which the certificate
relates lies to the appropriate appeal court, but

(b) an appeal lies from that determination to the Supreme Court.

(5) 35An application under subsection (1) is to be determined without a
hearing.

(6) Subject to subsection (4), no appeal lies to the appropriate appeal court
from a final determination of the Commission in respect of which a
certificate is granted under section 7B until—

(a) 40the time within which an application can be made under
subsection (1) has expired, and

(b) where such an application is made, that application has been
determined in accordance with this section.

7D Appeals to Supreme Court: exclusions

(1) 45No certificate may be granted under section 7B in respect of a final
determination of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission where,

Criminal Justice and Courts BillPage 42

by virtue of any enactment (other than sections 7B and 7C), no appeal
would lie from that decision of the Commission to the appropriate
appeal court, with or without the leave or permission of the
Commission or the appropriate appeal court.

(2) 5No certificate may be granted under section 7B in respect of a final
determination of the Commission where, by virtue of any enactment,
no appeal would lie from a decision of the appropriate appeal court on
that determination of the Commission to the Supreme Court, with or
without the permission or leave of the appropriate appeal court or the
10Supreme Court.

(3) Where no appeal would lie to the appropriate appeal court from a final
determination of the Commission except with the leave or permission
of the Commission or the appropriate appeal court, no certificate may
be granted under section 7B in respect of a final determination unless it
15appears to the Commission that it would be a proper case for granting
leave to appeal to the appropriate appeal court.

(4) No certificate may be granted under section 7B in respect of a decision
or order of the Commission made by it in the exercise of its jurisdiction
to punish for contempt.

(3) 20In section 1(4) (challenges to decisions of the Commission), after “section 7”
insert “and sections 7B to 7D”.

(4) In section 7(3) (appeals from the Commission: definition of “the appropriate
appeal court”), after “In this section” insert “and sections 7B to 7D”.

(5) In section 8 (procedure on applications for leave to appeal)—

(a) 25in subsection (1), at the end insert “or for the grant of a certificate under
section 7B”, and

(b) in subsection (2), omit “for leave to appeal”.

(6) In the heading of section 8, after “leave to appeal” insert “etc”.

Costs in civil proceedings

38 30Wasted costs in certain civil proceedings

(1) Section 51 of the Senior Courts Act 1981 (costs in civil division of Court of
Appeal, High Court, family court and county court) is amended as follows.

(2) After subsection (7) (wasted costs) insert—

(7A) Where the court exercises a power under subsection (6) in relation to
35costs incurred by a party, it must inform such of the following as it
considers appropriate—

(a) an approved regulator;

(b) the Director of Legal Aid Casework.

(3) After subsection (12) insert—

(12A) 40In subsection (7A)—

Contempt of court

39 5Strict liability: limitations and defences in England and Wales

(1) The Contempt of Court Act 1981 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 2 (limitation of scope of strict liability)—

(a) after subsection (2) insert—

(2A) In England and Wales, the strict liability rule applies to a
10publication only if the proceedings in question are active within
the meaning of this section at a time when the publication is
available to the public or a section of the public., and

(b) in subsection (3), at the beginning insert “In Scotland and Northern
Ireland,”.

(3) 15In section 3 (defence of innocent publication or distribution), at the end insert—

(5) In England and Wales, where a person—

(a) makes matter available to the public, or a section of the public,
continuously over a limited or unlimited period, and

(b) at the beginning of the period, has a defence under subsection
20(1) or (2) as regards the making available of the matter at that
time,

the person continues to have that defence as regards the making
available of the matter until (and only until) the person has relevant
knowledge or a reason to have a relevant suspicion.

(4) 25In section 4 (contemporary reports of proceedings), at the end insert—

(5) In England and Wales, a person has a defence under this section only
in respect of a contempt of court under the strict liability rule arising in
connection with—

(a) the proceedings that are the subject of the report, or

(b) 30any other legal proceedings that are active within the meaning
of section 2 when the report is first published.

(5) After section 4 insert—

4A Conduct begun before relevant proceedings: England and Wales

(1) This section applies where—

(a) 35a person makes matter available to the public, or a section of the
public, continuously over a period, and

(b) during the period, legal proceedings become active within the
meaning of section 2.

(2) In England and Wales, in making the matter available over the period,
40the person is not guilty of a contempt of court under the strict liability
rule in connection with those proceedings, subject to subsection (3).

(3) If the Attorney General gives the person a notice in respect of the matter
and the proceedings, the person does not have a defence under

Criminal Justice and Courts BillPage 44

subsection (2) in connection with the proceedings as regards the
making available of the matter after the date specified in the notice.

(4) The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision about the
giving of a notice under this section, including provision about the
5information to be included in a notice.

(5) Regulations under this section are to be made by statutory instrument.

(6) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section is
subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of
Parliament.

(7) 10If, over a period, a person makes the same matter available to the
public, or a section of the public, in different forms or by different
means, this section applies separately to the making available of the
matter in each of those forms or by each of those means.

(8) In this section—

(a) 15references to making matter available to the public are to doing
so as publisher, as distributor or otherwise;

(b) references to a period are to a limited or unlimited period.

(6) In section 21 (extent etc)—

(a) after subsection (3) insert—

(3A) 20Section 2(3) does not extend to England and Wales.,

(b) in subsection (4) (provisions that do not extend to Scotland), after
“Sections” insert “2(2A), 3(5), 4(5), 4A,”, and

(c) in subsection (5) (provisions that do not extend to Northern Ireland),
after “sections” insert “2(2A), 3(5), 4(5), 4A,”.

40 25Strict liability: appeal against injunction

In section 159(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Crown Court proceedings:
orders restricting or preventing reports or restricting public access), before
paragraph (a) insert—

(za) an injunction granted under section 45(4) of the Senior Courts
30Act 1981 in respect of contempt of court under the strict liability
rule (as defined in section 1 of the Contempt of Court Act
1981);.

Juries and members of the Court Martial

41 Upper age limit for jury service to be 75

(1) 35The Juries Act 1974 is amended as follows.

(2) In section 1(1)(a) (qualification for jury service) for the words from “and” to the
end substitute “and aged eighteen or over but under seventy six”.

(3) In section 3(1) (electoral register as basis of jury selection), for “less than
eighteen or more than seventy years of age” substitute

(a) 40aged under eighteen, or

(b) aged seventy six or over.

Criminal Justice and Courts BillPage 45

42 Jurors and electronic communications devices

In the Juries Act 1974, after section 15 insert—

15A Surrender of electronic communications devices

(1) A judge dealing with an issue may order the members of a jury trying
5the issue to surrender any electronic communications devices for a
period.

(2) An order may be made only if the judge considers that—

(a) the order is necessary or expedient in the interests of justice, and

(b) the terms of the order are a proportionate means of
10safeguarding those interests.

(3) An order may only specify a period during which the members of the
jury are—

(a) in the building in which the trial is being heard,

(b) in other accommodation provided at the judge’s request,

(c) 15visiting a place in accordance with arrangements made by the
court, or

(d) travelling to or from a place mentioned in paragraph (b) or (c).

(4) An order may be made subject to exceptions.

(5) It is a contempt of court for a member of a jury to fail to surrender an
20electronic communications device in accordance with an order under
this section.

(6) Proceedings for a contempt of court under this section may only be
instituted on the motion of a court having jurisdiction to deal with it.

(7) In this section, “electronic communications device” means a device that
25is designed or adapted for a use which consists of or includes the
sending or receiving of signals that are transmitted by means of an
electronic communications network (as defined in section 32 of the
Communications Act 2003).

43 Jurors and electronic communications devices: powers of search etc

(1) 30Part 4 of the Courts Act 2003 (court security officers) is amended as follows.

(2) After section 54 insert—

54A Powers in relation to jurors’ electronic communications devices

(1) This section applies where an order has been made under section 15A
of the Juries Act 1974 (surrender of electronic communications devices
35by jurors) in respect of the members of a jury.

(2) A court security officer acting in the execution of the officer’s duty
must, if ordered to do so by a judge, search a member of the jury in
order to determine whether the juror has failed to surrender an
electronic communications device in accordance with the order.

(3) 40Subsection (2) does not authorise the officer to require a person to
remove clothing other than a coat, jacket, headgear, gloves or footwear.

Criminal Justice and Courts BillPage 46

(4) If the search reveals a device which is required by the order to be
surrendered—

(a) the officer must ask the juror to surrender the device, and

(b) if the juror refuses to do so, the officer may seize it.

(5) 5In this section, “electronic communications device” means a device that
is designed or adapted for a use which consists of or includes the
sending or receiving of signals that are transmitted by means of an
electronic communications network (as defined in section 32 of the
Communications Act 2003).

(3) 10In section 55 (powers to retain articles surrendered or seized)—

(a) after subsection (1) insert—

(1A) Subject to subsection (2), a court security officer may retain an
article which was—

(a) surrendered in response to a request under section
1554A(4)(a), or

(b) seized under section 54A(4)(b),

until the end of the period specified in the relevant order under
section 15A of the Juries Act 1974., and

(b) in subsection (2), for paragraph (a) substitute—

(a) 20the time specified in subsection (1) or (1A) (as
appropriate), or.

(4) In section 56(1)(a) (regulations about retention of articles)—

(a) in sub-paragraph (i), after “54(1)” insert “or 54A(4)(a)”, and

(b) in sub-paragraph (ii), after “54(2)” insert “or 54A(4)(b)”.

44 25Research by jurors

(1) The Juries Act 1974 is amended as follows.

(2) For the heading of section 20 substitute “Offences: failure to attend, serving
while disqualified etc”.

(3) After section 20 insert—

20A 30Offence: research by jurors

(1) It is an offence for a member of a jury that tries an issue in a case before
a court to research the case during the trial period, subject to the
exceptions in subsections (6) and (7).

(2) A person researches a case if (and only if) the person—

(a) 35intentionally seeks information, and

(b) when doing so, knows or ought reasonably to know that the
information is or may be relevant to the case.

(3) The ways in which a person may seek information include—

(a) asking a question,

(b) 40searching an electronic database, including by means of the
internet,

(c) visiting or inspecting a place or object,

(d) conducting an experiment, and

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(e) asking another person to seek the information.

(4) Information relevant to the case includes information about—

(a) a person involved in events relevant to the case,

(b) the judge dealing with the issue,

(c) 5any other person involved in the trial, whether as a lawyer, a
witness or otherwise,

(d) the law relating to the case,

(e) the law of evidence, and

(f) court procedure.

(5) 10“The trial period”, in relation to a member of a jury that tries an issue,
is the period—

(a) beginning when the person is sworn to try the issue, and

(b) ending when the judge discharges the jury or, if earlier, when
the judge discharges the person.

(6) 15It is not an offence under this section for a person to seek information if
the person needs the information for a reason which is not connected
with the case.

(7) It is not an offence under this section for a person—

(a) to attend proceedings before the court on the issue;

(b) 20to seek information from the judge dealing with the issue;

(c) to do anything which the judge dealing with the issue directs or
authorises the person to do;

(d) to seek information from another member of the jury, unless the
person knows or ought reasonably to know that the other
25member of the jury contravened this section in the process of
obtaining the information;

(e) to do anything else which is reasonably necessary in order for
the jury to try the issue.

(8) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable, on conviction
30on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a
fine (or both).

(9) Proceedings for an offence under this section may only be instituted by
or with the consent of the Attorney General.

45 Sharing research with other jurors

35In the Juries Act 1974, after section 20A insert—

20B Offence: sharing research with other jurors

(1) It is an offence for a member of a jury that tries an issue in a case before
a court intentionally to disclose information to another member of the
jury during the trial period if—

(a) 40the member contravened section 20A in the process of obtaining
the information, and

(b) the information has not been provided by the court.

(2) Information has been provided by the court if (and only if) it has been
provided as part of—

Criminal Justice and Courts BillPage 48

(a) evidence presented in the proceedings on the issue, or

(b) other information provided to the jury or a juror during the trial
period by, or with the permission of, the judge dealing with the
issue.

(3) 5A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable, on conviction
on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a
fine (or both).

(4) Proceedings for an offence under this section may not be instituted
except by or with the consent of the Attorney General.

(5) 10In this section, “the trial period” has the same meaning as in section
20A.

46 Jurors engaging in other prohibited conduct

In the Juries Act 1974, after section 20B insert—

20C Offence: jurors engaging in other prohibited conduct

(1) 15It is an offence for a member of a jury that tries an issue in a case before
a court intentionally to engage in prohibited conduct during the trial
period, subject to the exceptions in subsections (4) and (5).

(2) “Prohibited conduct” means conduct from which it may reasonably be
concluded that the person intends to try the issue otherwise than on the
20basis of the evidence presented in the proceedings on the issue.

(3) An offence under this section is committed whether or not the person
knows that the conduct is prohibited conduct.

(4) It is not an offence under this section for a member of the jury to
research the case (as defined in section 20A(2) to (4)).

(5) 25It is not an offence under this section for a member of the jury to
disclose information to another member of the jury.

(6) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable, on conviction
on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a
fine (or both).

(7) 30Proceedings for an offence under this section may not be instituted
except by or with the consent of the Attorney General.

(8) In this section, “the trial period” has the same meaning as in section
20A.

47 Disclosing jury’s deliberations

(1) 35In the Juries Act 1974, after section 20C insert—

20D Offence: disclosing jury’s deliberations

(1) It is an offence for a person intentionally—

(a) to disclose information about statements made, opinions
expressed, arguments advanced or votes cast by members of a
40jury in the course of their deliberations in proceedings before a
court, or

Criminal Justice and Courts BillPage 49

(b) to solicit or obtain such information,

subject to the exceptions in sections 20E to 20G.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable, on conviction
on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or a
5fine (or both).

(3) Proceedings for an offence under this section may not be instituted
except by or with the consent of the Attorney General.

20E Offence of disclosing jury’s deliberations: initial exceptions

(1) It is not an offence under section 20D for a person to disclose
10information in the proceedings mentioned in section 20D(1) for the
purposes of enabling the jury to arrive at their verdict or in connection
with the delivery of that verdict.

(2) It is not an offence under section 20D for the judge dealing with those
proceedings to disclose information—

(a) 15for the purposes of dealing with the case, or

(b) for the purposes of an investigation by a relevant investigator
into whether an offence or contempt of court has been
committed by or in relation to a juror in the proceedings
mentioned in section 20D(1).

(3) 20It is not an offence under section 20D for a person who reasonably
believes that a disclosure described in subsection (2)(b) has been made
to disclose information for the purposes of the investigation.

(4) It is not an offence under section 20D to publish information disclosed
as described in subsection (1) or (2)(a) in the proceedings mentioned in
25section 20D(1).

(5) In this section—

(6) 35The Lord Chancellor must obtain the consent of the Lord Chief Justice
before making regulations under this section.

(7) A statutory instrument containing regulations under this section is
subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of
Parliament.

20F 40Offence of disclosing jury’s deliberations: further exceptions

(1) It is not an offence under section 20D for a person to disclose
information to a person listed in subsection (2) if—

(a) the disclosure is made after the jury in the proceedings
mentioned in section 20D(1) has been discharged, and

(b) 45the person making the disclosure reasonably believes that—

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