Para. 1 rep. by 2002 c. 26
Para. 2 rep. by 2002 c. 26
Para. 2A rep. by 2002 c. 26
3(1)Subject to the provisions of paragraph 4, a juvenile court shall be constituted of a resident magistrate, who shall be chairman, and two[F2 lay magistrates for the county court division which includes the petty sessions district or districts for which the court acts or any other county court division which adjoins that county court division], of whom one at least shall be a woman.N.I.
Sub-para. (2) rep. by 2002 c. 26
4N.I.A juvenile court at which the chairman is present shall have power to act notwithstanding that any other member fails to attend and remain present during the sitting of the court and all acts done by the court shall notwithstanding any such failure be as valid as if that member had so attended and remained.
5(1)The decision of a juvenile court upon any matter before it shall be by a majority of the members and shall be pronounced by the chairman, or other member at the request of the chairman, and no other member of the court shall make any separate pronouncement thereon; but where the chairman and one other member only attend and remain present during the sitting of the court the decision of the court shall in the event of disagreement between the chairman and that other member be the decision of the chairman and shall be pronounced by the chairman.N.I.
(2)Where during or after the hearing and before the determination of any matter before a juvenile court it appears to the chairman that there is, or is likely to be, any difference of opinion between the members, he shall cause the deliberations of the court upon that matter to be conducted in private, and may if he thinks fit adjourn the case for that purpose.
Para. 6 rep. by 2002 c. 26
7N.I.The clerk of petty session for the petty sessions district in which a juvenile court sits, or his deputy, shall be the clerk of that court.
8Regulations made by the [F3 Lord Chancellor[F4 after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice]] shall—
Sub-para. (a) rep. by 2002 c. 26
(b)designate the areas (each comprising one or more than one petty sessions district) in which the several juvenile courts are to exercise jurisdiction;
(c)provide for anything which is necessary or expedient for giving due effect to the provisions of this Act;
F5[(d)be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament in like manner as a statutory instrument and section 5 of the Statutory Instrument Act 1946 [1946 c.36] shall apply accordingly.]
F4Words in Sch. 2 para. 8 inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15(2), 148(1), Sch. 5 para. 18(2); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 paras. 10, 12(a)