# The Family Court (Composition and Distribution of Business) Rules 2014, Article 12: Absence of authorised lay justice entitled to preside

Extent: E+W

(1) The lay justices present may appoint one of their number to preside in the family court to deal with any case in the absence of a lay justice entitled to preside under rule 11 if—
(a) before making such appointment the lay justices present are satisfied as to the suitability for this purpose of the lay justice proposed; and
(b) expect as mentioned in paragraph (2), the lay justice proposed has completed or is undergoing a chairman training course in accordance with rule 19(f) of the 2016 Rules.
(2) The condition in paragraph (1)(b) does not apply if by reason of illness, circumstances unforeseen when the lay justices to sit were chosen, or other emergency, no lay justice who complies with that condition is present.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/840/article/12 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/family-court-composition-and-distribution-of-business-rules-2014/article-12
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.