Clause 66 - Judges having powers of District Judges - (Magistrates' Courts)
Courts Bill [Lords]
9:45 am
Mr David Kidney (Stafford, Labour)
I join my hon. Friend the Minister in paying tribute to the magistrates. However, they will sometimes recognise, often at an advanced stage in delicate family proceedings, that they are not the right people to be hearing a case because complexities have developed during the proceedings. At present, they have to transfer that case to a higher court for one of the kind of judges whom we are discussing. Would it not be better if they could bring the judges in, and thereby save a lot of delay? Is that not what the clause aims to do?