New court boards set up

NEW court boards are to be set up to enable local people to have their say on the way courts should run in their area, it has been revealed.

The Government is introducing a unified courts agency in 2005 which will be responsible for the administration of the magistrates', crown, country and higher courts.

Under the Court's Bill, currently going through Parliament, new courts boards will be established comprising judges, magistrates and members of the public.

The idea is to give people a greater say than they have at present on how the courts are run locally.

However, they will not be involved in judicial decisions.

The Department for Constitutional Affairs is now seeking views on how members of the courts boards are selected.

Text:Courts Minister Christopher Leslie said: "At the moment the public do not have enough say about how their local courts are run.

"These new bodies will allow the local community and stakeholders new opportunities to discuss such topics as where courts are located and how the level of service for court users can be improved, so there can be greater local accountability.

"Courts boards will better reflect the community they serve and be more in touch with their needs. These and other measures in the Courts Bill will create a new unified administration to serve all courts in England and Wales, and help us deliver a more efficient justice system which people can have confidence in."

The consultation paper, Courts Boards, Constitution and Procedures, is seeking views on issues such as how to attract a diverse range of candidates and how the selection process should work.

The deadline for views is January 6, 2004 and can be read on the Department for Constitutional Affairs website at http://www.lcd.gov.uk.