Article 8 Amendments to the Justices of the Peace (Size and Chairmanship of Bench) Rules 1990

For rule 11, there shall be substituted the following rule:

“Absence of chairman or deputy chairman

11

In the absence of a chairman or deputy chairman elected under these Rules, nothing in these Rules shall prevent the appointment by justices present of one of their number to preside at a court sitting to deal with any case, provided that—

(a)

before making such an appointment, the justices present are satisfied as to the suitability for this purpose of the justice proposed; and

(b)

the justice proposed has completed an appropriate course of instruction provided by a magistrates' courts committee in accordance with arrangements approved by the Lord Chancellor under section 63 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1979, unless by reason of illness or other emergency no such justice is present.”.