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Constitutional Reform Bill [HL]


 

Constitutional Reform Bill [HL]

 
 

explanatory notes

Explanatory notes to the Bill, prepared by the Department for Constitutional Affairs,

will be published separately as Bill 18—EN.

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

Mr Christopher Leslie has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of the

Human Rights Act 1998:

In my view the provisions of the Constitutional Reform Bill [HL] are compatible with

the Convention rights.

 
Bill 18 53/4
 

 

 

Constitutional Reform Bill [HL]

 

Bill 18                                                                                                 

53/4

 
   

Contents

Part 1

The rule of law

1   

The rule of law

Part 2

Arrangements to modify the office of Lord Chancellor

Qualifications for office of Lord Chancellor

2   

Requirement of membership of the House of Lords

3   

Legal qualifications

Continued judicial independence

4   

Guarantee of continued judicial independence

5   

Guarantee of continued judicial independence: Northern Ireland

The judiciary and the courts

6   

Representations to Parliament

7   

President of the Courts of England and Wales

8   

Head and Deputy Head of Criminal Justice

9   

Head and Deputy Head of Family Justice

10   

Powers to make rules

11   

Powers to give directions

12   

Transfer of appointment functions to Her Majesty

13   

Other functions of the Lord Chancellor and organisation of the courts

Lord Chancellor’s oath

14   

Lord Chancellor’s oath

Speakership of the House of Lords

15   

Speakership of the House of Lords

Functions subject to transfer, modification or abolition

16   

Transfer, modification or abolition of functions by order

 
Bill 18 53/4
 
 

Constitutional Reform Bill [HL]

iv

 

17   

Protected functions not transferable under Ministers of the Crown Act 1975

18   

Amendment of Schedule 6

Supplementary

19   

Transfers: supplementary

Part 3

The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court

20   

The Supreme Court

21   

First members of the Court

Appointment of judges

22   

Qualification for appointment

23   

Selection of members of the Court

24   

Selection process

25   

Report

26   

The Minister’s options

27   

Exercise of powers to reject or require reconsideration

28   

Selection following rejection or requirement to reconsider

Terms of appointment

29   

Oath of allegiance and judicial oath

30   

Tenure

31   

Salaries and allowances

32   

Resignation and retirement

33   

Medical retirement

34   

Pensions

Acting judges

35   

Acting judges

36   

Supplementary panel

Jurisdiction and relation to other courts etc

37   

Jurisdiction

38   

Relation to other courts etc

Composition for proceedings

39   

Composition

40   

Changes in composition

Practice and procedure

41   

Specially qualified advisers

42   

Making of rules

 
 

Constitutional Reform Bill [HL]

v

 

43   

Procedure after rules made

44   

Photography etc

Staff and resources

45   

Chief executive

46   

Officers and staff

47   

Accommodation and other resources

48   

System to support Court in carrying on business

Fees

49   

Fees

50   

Fees: supplementary

Annual report

51   

Annual report

Supplementary

52   

Records of the Supreme Court

53   

Proceedings under jurisdiction transferred to Supreme Court

54   

Interpretation of Part 3

Part 4

Judicial appointments and discipline

Chapter 1

Commission and Ombudsman

55   

The Judicial Appointments Commission

56   

Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman

Chapter 2

Appointments

General provisions

57   

Merit and good character

58   

Guidance about procedures

59   

Guidance: supplementary

Lord Chief Justice and Heads of Division

60   

Selection of Lord Chief Justice and Heads of Division

61   

Selection process

62   

Selection panel

63   

Report

64   

The Minister’s options

65   

Exercise of powers to reject or require reconsideration

 
 

Constitutional Reform Bill [HL]

vi

 

66   

Selection following rejection or requirement to reconsider

Lords Justices of Appeal

67   

Selection of Lords Justices of Appeal

68   

Selection process

69   

Selection panel

70   

Report

71   

The Minister’s options

72   

Exercise of powers to reject or require reconsideration

73   

Selection following rejection or requirement to reconsider

Puisne judges and other office holders

74   

Selection of puisne judges and other office holders

75   

Request

76   

Selection process

77   

Report

78   

The Minister’s options

79   

Exercise of powers to reject or require reconsideration

80   

Selection following rejection or requirement to reconsider

81   

Reconsideration of decision not to select

82   

Withdrawal of request

83   

Scotland and Northern Ireland

Assistance in connection with other appointments

84   

Assistance in connection with other appointments

Complaints and references

85   

Complaints: interpretation

86   

Complaints to the Commission or the Minister

87   

Complaints to the Ombudsman

88   

Report and recommendations

89   

Report procedure

90   

References by the Minister

91   

Information

Miscellaneous

92   

Consultation on appointment of lay justices

93   

Disclosure of information to the Commission

Chapter 3

Discipline

Procedures

94   

Disciplinary powers

95   

Disciplinary powers: interpretation

96   

Regulations about procedures

97   

Contents of regulations

 
 

Constitutional Reform Bill [HL]

vii

 

98   

Procedural rules

99   

Extension of discipline provisions to other offices

Complaints and references

100   

Investigations by the Ombudsman relating to conduct

101   

Report and recommendations

102   

Report procedure

103   

References to the Ombudsman relating to conduct

Chapter 4

Interpretation of Part 4

104   

Interpretation of Part 4

Part 5

Judicial Discipline: Northern Ireland

105   

Removal from most senior judicial offices

106   

Removal from listed judicial offices

107   

Tribunals for considering removal

108   

Interpretation of Part 5

Part 6

Other provisions relating to the judiciary

109   

Parliamentary disqualification

110   

Judicial Committee of the Privy Council

Part 7

General

111   

Confidentiality

112   

“Enactment”

113   

“Subordinate legislation”

114   

General interpretation

115   

Supplementary provision etc

116   

Orders and regulations

117   

Minor and consequential amendments

118   

Repeals and revocations

119   

Extent

120   

Commencement

121   

Short title

Schedule 1   —   

Powers to make rules

Part 1   —   

The process

Part 2   —   

Rule-making powers subject to the process in Part 1

 
 

 
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Revised 22 December 2004