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House of Lords

Session 2003 - 04 Internet Publications Other Bills before Parliament

Constitutional Reform Bill [HL]

Constitutional Reform Bill [HL]
EXPLANATORY NOTES
Explanatory notes to the Bill, prepared by the Department for Constitutional
Affairs, are published separately as HL Bill 30—EN.
EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
The Lord Falconer of Thoroton has made the following statement under
section 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998:
In my view the provisions of the Constitutional Reform Bill [HL] are
compatible with the Convention rights.
HL Bill 30 53/3
Constitutional Reform Bill [HL]
Contents
Part 1
Arrangements to replace office of Lord Chancellor
The judiciary and courts
1    Guarantee of continued judicial independence
2    President of the Courts of England and Wales
3    Functions of the Lord Chancellor and organisation of the courts
4    Head and Deputy Head of Criminal Justice
5    Head and Deputy Head of Family Justice
6    Powers to make rules
7    Powers to give directions
Appointments
8    Transfer of appointment functions
The Great Seal
9    The Great Seal
10    Commissioners of the Great Seal
Speakership of the House of Lords
11    Speakership of the House of Lords
Abolition of the office of Lord Chancellor
12    Abolition of office of Lord Chancellor
13    Salary and pension
Supplementary
14    Property, rights and liabilities
15    Transfers: supplementary
16    Part 1: interpretation
HL Bill 30 53/3
Constitutional Reform Bill [HL] iv
Part 2
The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court
17    The Supreme Court
18    First members of the Court
Appointment of judges
19    Qualification for appointment
20    Commission
21    Selection of candidate
22    Recommendation to Her Majesty
Terms of appointment
23    Oath of allegiance and judicial oath
24    Tenure
25    Salaries and allowances
26    Resignation and retirement
27    Medical retirement
28    Pensions
Acting judges
29    Acting judges
30    Supplementary panel
Jurisdiction
31    Jurisdiction
Composition for proceedings
32    Composition
33    Changes in composition
Practice and procedure
34    Specially qualified advisers
35    Making of rules
36    Procedure after rules made
37    Photography etc
Resources
38    Minister’s duty
39    Officers and staff: appointment by Minister
40    Staff: provision by third parties
41    Services: provision by third parties
42    Accommodation
43    Annual report
Constitutional Reform Bill [HL] v
Fees
44    Fees
45    Fees: supplementary
Supplementary
46    Records of the Supreme Court
47    Proceedings under jurisdiction transferred to Supreme Court
48    Interpretation of Part 2
Part 3
Judicial appointments and discipline
Chapter 1
Commission and Ombudsman
49    The Judicial Appointments Commission
50    Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman
Chapter 2
Appointments
General provisions
51    Merit and good character
52    Guidance by the Minister
Lord Chief Justice and Heads of Division
53    Selection of Lord Chief Justice and Heads of Division
54    Selection process
55    Selection panel
56    Report
57    The Minister’s options
58    Selection following rejection or requirement to reconsider
Lords Justices of Appeal
59    Selection of Lords Justices of Appeal
60    Selection process
61    Selection panel
62    Report
63    The Minister’s options
64    Selection following rejection or requirement to reconsider
Puisne judges and other office holders
65    Selection of puisne judges and other office holders
66    Request
67    Selection process
68    Report
Constitutional Reform Bill [HL] vi
69    The Minister’s options
70    Selection following rejection or requirement to reconsider
71    Reconsideration of decision not to select
72    Withdrawal of request
Complaints and references
73    Qualifying complaints
74    Complaints to the Commission or the Minister
75    Complaints to the Ombudsman
76    Report and recommendations
77    Report procedure
78    References by the Minister
79    Information
Miscellaneous
80    Consultation on appointment of lay justices
81    Confidentiality
82    Disclosure of information to Commission
Chapter 3
Discipline
Procedures
83    Disciplinary powers
84    Disciplinary powers: interpretation
85    Regulations about procedures
86    Contents of regulations
87    Procedural rules
Complaints and references
88    Investigations by the Ombudsman relating to conduct
89    References to the Ombudsman relating to conduct
90    Report and recommendations
91    Report procedure
Chapter 4
General
92    Confidentiality
93    Interpretation of Part 3
Part 4
Other provisions relating to the judiciary
94    Parliamentary disqualification
95    Judicial functions of the Lord President of the Council
Constitutional Reform Bill [HL] vii
Part 5
General
96    Functions of the Minister not to be transferred by order
97    Interpretation: the Minister
98    Supplementary provision etc
99    Orders and regulations
100    Minor and consequential amendments
101    Repeals and revocations
102    Extent
103    Commencement
104    Short title
Schedule 1   —    Functions of the Lord Chancellor and organisation of the
courts
Part 1   —    Amendments
Part 2   —    Amendment of enactments repealed or amended otherwise
than by this Act
Schedule 2   —    Powers to make rules
Part 1   —    The process
Part 2   —    Rule-making powers subject to the process in Part 1
Schedule 3   —    Powers to give directions
Part 1   —    The process
Part 2   —    Powers of direction subject to the process in Part 1
Schedule 4   —    Appointment functions
Part 1   —    Appointments to be made by the Queen
Part 2   —    Appointments to be made by the Minister
Schedule 5   —    Amendments relating to the Great Seal
Schedule 6   —    Speakership of the House of Lords
Schedule 7   —    Salary and pension of the Lord Chancellor
Part 1   —    Salary and pension: consequential provision
Part 2   —    Pension arrangements of last Lord Chancellor: special
provision
Schedule 8   —    Amendments relating to jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
Part 1   —    Jurisdiction transferred from the House of Lords
Part 2   —    Devolution jurisdiction
Schedule 9   —    Proceedings under jurisdiction transferred to Supreme Court
Schedule 10   —    The Judicial Appointments Commission
Part 1   —    The Commissioners
Part 2   —    The Commission
Schedule 11   —    The Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman
Schedule 12   —    The Judicial Appointments Commission: Relevant Functions
and Offices
Part 1   —    Appointments by Her Majesty: judicial and other offices
Part 2   —    Appointments by the Minister: judicial offices
Part 3   —    Appointments by the Minister: other offices
Schedule 13   —    Judicial functions of the Lord President of the Council
Schedule 14   —    Minor and consequential amendments
Part 1   —    The Lord Chancellor
Part 2   —    Amendments relating to Part 2
Constitutional Reform Bill [HL] viii
Schedule 15   —    Repeals and revocations
Part 1   —    The Lord Chancellor
Part 2   —    Functions of The Lord Chancellor and organisation of the
courts
Part 3   —    The Great Seal
Part 4   —    Lord Chancellor’s salary and pension
Part 5   —    Power to make rules
Part 6   —    Powers to give directions
Part 7   —    Supreme Court

© Parliamentary copyright 2004	Revised 25 February 2004