Section 139 The appropriate judgeI1

United Kingdom

(1)

The appropriate judge is—

(a)

in England and Wales, a District Judge (Magistrates' Courts) designated for the purposes of this Part F1by the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales after consulting the Lord Chancellor;

(b)

in Scotland, the sheriff of Lothian and Borders;

(c)

in Northern Ireland, such county court judge or resident magistrate as is designated for the purposes of this Part by the F2Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland after consulting the F3Department of Justice in Northern Ireland.

(2)

A designation under subsection (1) may be made for all cases or for such cases (or cases of such description) as the designation stipulates.

(3)

More than one designation may be made under subsection (1).

F4(3A)

The use of the expression “the judge” in a section containing a previous reference to “the appropriate judge” or “the judge” does not in itself require both references to be read as referring to the same individual.

(4)

This section applies for the purposes of this Part.

F5(5)

The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales may nominate a judicial office holder (as defined in section 109(4) of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005) to exercise his functions under subsection (1)(a).

(6)

The Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland may nominate any of the following to exercise his functions under subsection (1)(c)—

(a)

the holder of one of the offices listed in Schedule 1 to the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002;

(b)

a Lord Justice of Appeal (as defined in section 88 of that Act).

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Words in s. 139(1)(a) substituted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 148, Sch. 4 para. 354(2); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a) Sch. 1 paras. 10, 11(cc)
F2: Words in s. 139(1)(c) substituted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 148, Sch. 4 para. 354(3); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a) Sch. 1 paras. 10, 11(cc)
F3: Words in s. 139(1)(c) substituted (12.4.2010) by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 15(5), Sch. 18 para. 70(3) (with arts. 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2)
F4: S. 139(3A) inserted (15.1.2007) by Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48), ss. 42, 53, Sch. 13 para. 15(1); S.I. 2006/3364, art. 2(d)(e)
F5: S. 139(5)(6) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15, 148, Sch. 4 para. 354(4); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a) Sch. 1 paras. 10, 11(cc)

Commencement

I1: Act wholly in force at 1.1.2004, see s. 221 and S.I. 2003/3103, art. 2 (subject to arts. 3-5) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3258 art. 2(2) and S.I. 2003/3312 art. 2(2))

Notes on Part 2

Commencement

I1: Act wholly in force at 1.1.2004, see s. 221 and S.I. 2003/3103, art. 2 (subject to arts. 3-5) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3258 art. 2(2) and S.I. 2003/3312 art. 2(2))

Notes on Interpretation

Commencement

I1: Act wholly in force at 1.1.2004, see s. 221 and S.I. 2003/3103, art. 2 (subject to arts. 3-5) (as amended by S.I. 2003/3258 art. 2(2) and S.I. 2003/3312 art. 2(2))