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]
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]
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]
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...