Amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules 19988

In Part 52—

a

In rule 52.2, in both the heading and the rule itself, for “Practice Direction 52” substitute “Practice Directions 52A to 52E”;

b

in rule 52.3, for paragraph (4A) substitute—

4A

a

Where a judge of the Court of Appeal or of the High Court, a Designated Civil Judge or a Specialist Circuit Judge refuses permission to appeal without a hearing and considers that the application is totally without merit, the judge may make an order that the person seeking permission may not request the decision to be reconsidered at a hearing.

b

For the purposes of subparagraph (a) “Specialist Circuit Judge” means a Patents County Court judge and any circuit judge in any county court nominated to hear cases in the Mercantile, Chancery or Technology and Construction Court lists.

c

in rule 52.15—

i

after paragraph (1), insert—

1A

Where permission to apply for judicial review of a decision of the Upper Tribunal has been refused by the High Court—

a

the applicant may apply to the Court of Appeal for permission to appeal;

b

the application will be determined on paper without an oral hearing.

ii

in paragraph (2), for “paragraph (1)”, insert “paragraphs (1) or (1A)”.