Court of Common Pleas Expansion Act 2017

[Passed 10-0. Royal Assent: 13 December 2017]

An Act to provide to expand the composition of the Court of Common Pleas and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords and Burgesses in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

1. SHORT TITLE

This act may be cited for all purposes as “Court of Common Pleas Expansion Act.”

2. INCREASING THE COMPOSITION OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS

The maximum number of judges who may sit on the Court of Common Pleas shall be expanded from three (3) to five (5).

3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS

The Judiciary Act 2016 is hereby amended in Section 2(b) to read: b. “His Majesty in Council may appoint up to five judges to serve on the bench of the Court of Common Pleas who are learned in law.”

4. VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT OF THE CHIEF JUDGE

The Chief Judge of the Court of Common Pleas may elect to relinquish their office as Chief Judge and remain on the Court as an Associate Judge without need for further appointment or approval by His Majesty in Council.

5. COMMENCEMENT

This legislation and all the provisions therein shall come into force upon receiving the Royal Assent.