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]

Contents

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

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)