OpenLegislation

Courts Act 1971

1971 c. 23 · Enacted 12 May 1971 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 5 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 October 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 29(1)word omittedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 s. 46(2)(a)
s. 29(1)words omittedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 s. 46(2)(b)
s. 29(1)words substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 s. 46(2)(c)
s. 29(1)words substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 s. 46(2)(d)
s. 29(2)word substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 s. 46(3)
An Act to make further provision as respects the F1Senior Courts and county courts, judges and juries, to establish a Crown Court as part of the Senior Courts to try indictments and exercise certain other jurisdiction, to abolish courts of assize and certain other courts and to deal with their jurisdiction and other consequential matters, and to amend in other respects the law about courts and court proceedings.[12th May 1971] I1E1

Annotations to the whole text

Textual amendments

F1

Act: words substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 59, 148, Sch. 11 para. 4; S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(b)(d)

Commencement

I1

Act not in force at Royal Assent see s. 59(2); Act wholly in force at 1. 1. 1972.

Extent

E1

For extent see s. 59(5)(6)(7).

Contents

  1. Part I: Introductory
  2. 1The Supreme Court. Repealed
  3. 2Location of sittings and business of High Court. Repealed
  4. 3Abolition of courts of quarter sessions. Repealed
  5. Part II: The Crown Court
  6. 4Establishment of the Crown Court. Repealed
  7. 5Justices as judges of Crown Court. Repealed
  8. Trial on indictment
  9. 6Exclusive jurisdiction in trial on indictment. Repealed
  10. 7Committal for trial on indictment. Repealed
  11. Other jurisdiction
  12. 8Transfer to Crown Court of quarter sessions jurisdiction. Repealed
  13. 9Appeals to Crown Court. Repealed
  14. 10High Court jurisdiction in Crown Court proceedings. Repealed
  15. Trial on indictment and other jurisdiction
  16. 11Sentences imposed and other decisions made by Crown Court. Repealed
  17. 12Right of audience. Repealed
  18. 13Process to compel appearance before Crown Court.
  19. 14Practice and procedure: power to make rules. Repealed
  20. 15Crown Court rules. Repealed
  21. Part III: Judges
  22. 16Appointment of Circuit Judges.
  23. 17Retirement, removal and disqualifications of Circuit judge.
  24. 18Salaries and allowances of Circuit judges.
  25. 19Section 19
  26. 20Judges of county courts.
  27. 21Appointment of Recorders.
  28. 22Oaths to be taken by Circuit judges and Recorders.
  29. 23Circuit judge or Recorder sitting as High Court Judge.
  30. 24Deputy Circuit judges ... Repealed
  31. 25Official referees’ business.
  32. Part IV: Officers and Accommodation
  33. 26Masters and registrars to be appointed by Lord Chancellor.
  34. 27Administrative and other court staff. Repealed
  35. 28Provision of accommodation. Repealed
  36. 29Accommodation in City of London.
  37. 30Advisory committees.
  38. Part V
  39. 31. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  40. Part VI: Miscellaneous and Supplemental
  41. Merger or abolition of certain courts and offices
  42. 41Merger of Palatine Courts with High Court. Repealed
  43. 42Local court for City of London.
  44. 43Abolition of certain other local courts. Repealed
  45. 44Abolition of certain offices.
  46. 45. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  47. 46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  48. Costs
  49. 47. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  50. 50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  51. 51Construction and consequential amendments
  52. 52Award of costs where information or complaint is not proceeded with.
  53. Administrative functions of justices
  54. 53Administrative functions of justices. Repealed
  55. Boroughs: honorary offices
  56. 54Boroughs: honorary offices.
  57. Supplemental
  58. 55Financial provisions.
  59. 56Minor and consequential amendments, transitional provisions and repeals.
  60. 57Interpretation of this Act and rules of construction of other Acts.
  61. 58. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  62. 59Short title, commencement and extent.
  63. Schedule 1
  64. Schedule 2: Holders of Certain Existing Judicial Offices
  65. Part I: Certain Office-Holders to be Circuit Judges
  66. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  67. 2Paragraph 2
  68. 3Paragraph 3
  69. IACertain Office–Holders Eligible for Appointment as Circuit Judges
  70. Paragraph
  71. Paragraph
  72. Paragraph
  73. Paragraph
  74. Paragraph Repealed
  75. Paragraph
  76. Paragraph Repealed
  77. Paragraph Repealed
  78. Paragraph
  79. Paragraph
  80. Paragraph
  81. Paragraph
  82. Paragraph
  83. Paragraph
  84. Paragraph
  85. Paragraph
  86. Paragraph
  87. Paragraph
  88. Paragraph
  89. Part II: Supplementary Provisions with Respect to Certain Judicial Officers
  90. 4Paragraph 4
  91. 5Paragraph 5
  92. 6Paragraph 6
  93. 7Paragraph 7
  94. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  95. 9Paragraph 9
  96. Schedule 3
  97. Right of use for Supreme Court and county courts
  98. 1Paragraph 1
  99. Premises acquired by Secretary of State
  100. 2Paragraph 2
  101. Compulsory purchase
  102. 3Paragraph 3
  103. Loan charges
  104. 4Paragraph 4
  105. 5Paragraph 5
  106. 6Paragraph 6
  107. Premises in which more than one local authority are interested
  108. 7Paragraph 7
  109. Termination of obligation to provide courthouse or sessions-house
  110. 8Paragraph 8
  111. Judges’ lodgings
  112. 9Paragraph 9
  113. Reference of disputes to Lands Tribunal
  114. 10Paragraph 10
  115. Exclusion of premises in City of London
  116. 11Paragraph 11
  117. Supplemental
  118. 12Paragraph 12
  119. Schedule 4
  120. Schedule 5
  121. Part I: The Palatine Courts
  122. Interpretation
  123. 1Paragraph 1
  124. Pending Proceedings
  125. 2Paragraph 2
  126. Fees
  127. 3Paragraph 3
  128. Funds in court
  129. 4Paragraph 4
  130. Court Records
  131. 5Paragraph 5
  132. Part II: Mayor’s and City of London Court
  133. Interpretation
  134. 6Paragraph 6
  135. Pending proceedings
  136. 7Paragraph 7
  137. Outstanding fees
  138. 8Paragraph 8
  139. Funds in court
  140. 9Paragraph 9
  141. Part III: Other Local Courts
  142. Interpretation
  143. 10Paragraph 10
  144. Pending proceedings
  145. 11Paragraph 11
  146. Fees
  147. 12Paragraph 12
  148. Funds in court
  149. 13Paragraph 13
  150. Court records
  151. 14Paragraph 14
  152. Schedule 6: AMENDMENTS RELATING TO COSTS IN CRIMINAL CASES ETC.
  153. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  154. Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963
  155. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  156. Licensing Act 1964.
  157. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  158. Criminal Justice Act 1967
  159. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  160. 9Paragraph 9
  161. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  162. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  163. Gaming Act 1968
  164. 12Paragraph 12
  165. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  166. Schedule 7: ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS OF JUSTICES
  167. Part I: AMENDMENTS OF JUSTICES OF THE PEACE ACT 1949
  168. 1Paragraph 1
  169. 2Paragraph 2
  170. 3Paragraph 3
  171. Part II: AMENDMENTS OF THE PRISON ACT 1952
  172. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  173. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  174. Part III
  175. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  176. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  177. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  178. Schedule 8: Amendments of other Acts
  179. Part I: General
  180. Administrative functions of quarter sessions and clerks of the peace
  181. 1Paragraph 1
  182. General rules of construction
  183. 2Paragraph 2
  184. Amendments of local Acts
  185. 3Paragraph 3
  186. Part II: Miscellaneous Amendments
  187. Habeas Corpus 1679
  188. 4Paragraph 4
  189. Vagrancy Act 1824
  190. 5Paragraph 5
  191. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  192. Parliamentary Documents Deposit Act 1837
  193. 7Paragraph 7
  194. Slave Trade Act 1843
  195. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  196. Indictable Offences Act 1848
  197. 9Paragraph 9
  198. Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851
  199. 10Paragraph 10
  200. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  201. Explosives Act 1875
  202. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  203. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  204. Central Criminal Court (Prisons) Act 1881
  205. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  206. Coroners Act 1887
  207. 15Paragraph 15
  208. Witnesses (Public Inquiries) Protection Act 1892
  209. 16Paragraph 16
  210. Indictments Act 1915
  211. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  212. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  213. Criminal Justice Act 1925
  214. 19Paragraph 19
  215. Coroners (Amendment) Act 1926
  216. 20Paragraph 20
  217. Petroleum (Consolidation) Act 1928
  218. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  219. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  220. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  221. Criminal Justice Act 1948
  222. 24Paragraph 24
  223. 25Paragraph 25 Repealed
  224. 28Paragraph 28
  225. 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
  226. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
  227. 31Paragraph 31 Repealed
  228. 32Paragraph 32 Repealed
  229. Prison Act 1952
  230. 33Paragraph 33
  231. 34Paragraph 34 Repealed
  232. County Courts Act 1959
  233. 35Paragraph 35 Repealed
  234. 36Paragraph 36 Repealed
  235. Obscene Publications Act 1959
  236. 37Paragraph 37
  237. 38Paragraph 38 Repealed
  238. Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960
  239. 39Paragraph 39
  240. Administration of Justice Act 1960
  241. 40Paragraph 40
  242. Criminal Justice Act 1961
  243. 41Paragraph 41 Repealed
  244. Licensing Act 1964
  245. 42Paragraph 42 Repealed
  246. Administration of Justice Act 1964
  247. 43Paragraph 43
  248. 44Paragraph 44 Repealed
  249. Criminal Procedure (Attendance of Witnesses) Act 1965
  250. 45Paragraph 45
  251. 46Paragraph 46 Repealed
  252. 47Paragraph 47 Repealed
  253. Criminal Justice Act 1967
  254. 48Paragraph 48
  255. 49Paragraph 49 Repealed
  256. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  257. 51Paragraph 51 Repealed
  258. 52Paragraph 52 Repealed
  259. 53Paragraph 53 Repealed
  260. 55Paragraph 55 Repealed
  261. 56Paragraph 56 Repealed
  262. Criminal Appeal Act 1968
  263. 57Paragraph 57
  264. Domestic and Appellate Proceedings (Restriction of Publicity) Act 1968
  265. 58Paragraph 58
  266. Children and Young Persons Act 1969
  267. 59Paragraph 59 Repealed
  268. Administration of Justice Act 1970
  269. 60Paragraph 60
  270. Schedule 9: Quarter Sessions Jurisdiction: Substitution of References to Crown Court
  271. IAppellate Jurisdiction
  272. IIOriginal Jurisdiction
  273. Schedule 10.: Transitional Provisions
  274. Part I: Criminal Assize Courts and Courts of Quarter Sessions
  275. 1Paragraph 1
  276. Part-heard proceedings
  277. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  278. Costs in criminal cases
  279. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  280. Records of courts of quarter sessions
  281. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  282. Part II: Courts: Miscellaneous
  283. Civil courts of assize
  284. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  285. Directions by Lord Chief Justice
  286. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  287. Part III: County Court Judges
  288. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  289. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  290. Part IV: Judges, Officers and Staff
  291. Continuation of appointments
  292. 9Paragraph 9
  293. Jury service
  294. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  295. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  296. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  297. 15Paragraph 15
  298. 16Paragraph 16
  299. Seconding of staff from local or other authorities
  300. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  301. Schedule 11: REPEALS