Local justice area

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Local justice areas are units in England and Wales established by the Courts Act 2003, [1] replacing [1] and directly based on [2] the previous petty sessional divisions. They have been in existence since 2005. [3]

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Whilst previously, local justice areas were used to determine which magistrates' courts may hear a particular case, since 1 April 2015, any magistrates' court in England and Wales may hear any case from anywhere in England and Wales. [4] [5]

The areas established were identical to the petty sessional divisions. They have since been amended by the merger of South Pembrokeshire and North Pembrokeshire to a single Pembrokeshire local justice area, [6] and the merger of De Maldwyn and Welshpool to a single Montgomeryshire local justice area [6] – this change came into force in 2006, although the magistrates already shared the same courtroom.

A further amendment occurred in 2006 when the areas of Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Drayton were combined to become a new area named Shrewsbury and North Shropshire. [7] The areas of Telford and Bridgnorth and South Shropshire were also combined to become a new area named Telford and South Shropshire. [7]

A major rearrangement culminated in April 2017, when many local justice areas were amalgamated to leave 75 across England and Wales. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Each local justice area was part of a larger courts board area, which replaced the magistrates' courts committee areas with the inauguration of Her Majesty's Courts Service in 2005. [21] Courts boards were abolished in 2012. [22]

Local Justice Areas will be abolished once Section 45 of the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 is brought into force. [23]

Post 2017 Local Justice Areas

These are the Local Justice Areas as lasted merged by The Local Justice Areas Order 2016, in effect from 1 April 2017: [9] [10] [11] [12]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "Courts Act 2003: Section 8", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 2003 c. 39 (s. 8)
  2. ↑ "The Local Justice Areas Order 2005". Legislation.gov.uk. National Archives. 8 March 2005. p. Explanatory Note. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
  3. ↑ "Local Justice Areas Order 2005", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2005/554
  4. ↑ "Memorandum by the Magistrates' Association, Judicial Policy & Practice Committee". UK Parliament Publications and Records. House of Commons. 17 March 2006. Retrieved 17 February 2023. Our suggested solution, based upon the fact that from 1 April 2005 magistrates have the capability to hear cases anywhere within the jurisdiction of their National Commission, and not just within their local area...
  5. ↑ "Courts Act 2003 Explanatory Notes". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. 20 November 2003. 95. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  6. 1 2 "The Local Justice Areas (No.2) Order 2005", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2005/2949
  7. 1 2 "The Local Justice Areas (No.1) Order 2006", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2006/1839
  8. ↑ "Local Justice Areas 2021" (PDF). What Do They Know . HMCTS. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  9. 1 2 "The Local Justice Areas Order 2016", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 15 September 2016, SI 2016/941, retrieved 15 February 2023
  10. 1 2 "The Local Justice Areas (No. 2) Order 2015", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 15 September 2015, SI 2015/1870, retrieved 3 March 2023
  11. 1 2 "The Local Justice Areas Order 2015", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 9 July 2015, SI 2015/1506, retrieved 3 March 2023
  12. 1 2 "The Local Justice Areas (No. 3) Order 2014", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 25 October 2014, SI 2014/2867, retrieved 3 March 2023
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Local Justice Areas (No. 2) Order 2014", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 17 July 2014, SI 2014/1899, retrieved 11 December 2024
  14. 1 2 3 4 "The Local Justice Areas Order 2014", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 14 February 2014, SI 2014/322, retrieved 13 December 2024
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Local Justice Areas (No. 2) Order 2013", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 24 July 2013, SI 2013/1878, retrieved 13 December 2024
  16. 1 2 3 "The Local Justice Areas Order 2013", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 16 July 2013, SI 2013/1777, retrieved 13 December 2024
  17. 1 2 "The Local Justice Areas (No. 3) Order 2012", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 17 December 2012, SI 2012/3128, retrieved 13 December 2024
  18. 1 2 "The Local Justice Areas (No. 2) Order 2012", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 16 June 2012, SI 2012/1555, retrieved 13 December 2024
  19. 1 2 "The Local Justice Areas Order 2012", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 14 May 2012, SI 2012/1277, retrieved 13 December 2024
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 "The Local Justice Areas Order 2011", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 26 April 2011, SI 2011/1168, retrieved 11 December 2024
  21. ↑ "The Courts Boards Areas (Amendment) Order 2004", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, SI 2004/1303
  22. ↑ The Public Bodies (Abolition of Courts Boards) Order 2012, UK Statutory Instruments 2012, 2012, Wikidata   Q99682324
  23. ↑ "Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022: Section 45", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 2022 c. 35 (s. 45)
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