Article 4 Election of chairman and deputy chairman

Subject to paragraph (3) below, the justices for each petty sessions area shall, in accordance with the following provisions of these Rules, elect from among their number a chairman and one or more deputy chairmen, and the justices for the City of London shall so elect from among their number one or more deputy chairmen, at a meeting (hereinafter referred to as an “election meeting”) to be held in the month of October every year of which at least seven days' notice shall be given to each justice for the petty sessions area.

Notice of a meeting under paragraph (1) above shall include notice, subject to rule 6(5) of these Rules, of the result of any ballot held under rule 6 and notice of the result of any ballot held under rule 9(3) of these Rules.

Subject to paragraph (4) below, a justice shall not vote at any election for the chairman or a deputy chairman at any election meeting held within 12 months of his assignment to the petty sessions area in respect of which the election meeting is held.

Where a new petty sessions area is constituted by an order under section 23 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1979 or otherwise, a justice for that petty sessions area may vote at any election at the first election meeting for that area if he could, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (3) of this rule, at that time have voted at any election held at an election meeting in respect of any petty sessions area which, or part of which, is included in the new petty sessions area.

Subject to a decision by the justices under rule 5 of these Rules to adopt the procedure under rule 6 of these Rules, no justice shall be nominated for election before the election takes place.

The justices present shall not proceed to elect a deputy chairman before–