Crown Court Rule Committee
Annual Report April 2007 - March 2008
Terms of Reference
The Crown Court Rule Committee is an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body. It was created by virtue of section 86 of the Supreme Court Act 1981 which confers the power to make Crown Court Rules for the purpose of regulating and prescribing the practice and procedure to be followed by the Crown Court. The current function of the Crown Court Rule Committee is to examine any proposed amendments to those Rules in relation to civil matters.
Rules considered during April 2007 / March 2008
None
Further Information
- The Committee does not hold a budget. Appointments to it do not attract remuneration and are undertaken on a voluntary basis. The Committee does not meet in person and is consulted by post. Administrative overheads are therefore limited to routine mail and telephone charges which are absorbed into departmental running costs.
- All executive non-departmental public bodies have in place codes of conduct for their members, including publicly available registers of interest.
- The provisions of s86 of the Supreme Court Act were amended by paragraphs 137-138 of Schedule 4 to the Constitutional Reform Act which came into force on the 3 April 2006.
Membership
The Committee was historically made up of three ex officio members, two judges of the Supreme Court, two circuit judges, a justice of the peace, two practising barristers and two practising solicitors. Members can serve a maximum of two, three-year terms. The membership is at the time of publication as follows:
Ex Officio Members
The Lord Chief Justice
Supreme Court Judge
The appointment of two Supreme Court Judges is currently being considered.
Circuit Judge
Her Honour Judge Carol Hagen (appointment expires 26th July 2008)
The appointment of the second Circuit Judge is still being considered.
Justice of the Peace
Mrs Elizabeth Barnett (appointment expires 27th February 2007)
Barrister
Mr Peter Carter (appointment expires 27th February 2010)
Mr Jeffrey Pegden (appointment expires 26th July 2008)
Solicitors
Mr Ewen Smith (appointment expires 20 January 2009)
The appointment of the second solicitor is currently being considered