# The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025, Rule 9.4: Duty of justices’ legal adviser

Extent: E+W

(1) This rule applies—
(a) only in a magistrates’ court; and
(b) unless the court—
(i) includes a District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts), and
(ii) otherwise directs.
(2) On the court’s behalf, a justices’ legal adviser may—
(a) read the allegation of the offence to the defendant; and
(b) give any explanation and ask any question required by the rules in this Part.
[Note. For the functions of a justices’ legal adviser, see sections 28 and 29 of the Courts Act 2003. See also rule 2.12 (Duties of justices’ legal adviser).]

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/909/rule/9.4 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-rules-2025/rule-9.4
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.