The Family Procedure Rule Committee is a non-departmental public body set up under the Courts Act 2003 to make rules of court for use in family proceedings.
Under the Courts Act the Committee will be the single rule making body for the new Family Procedure Rules. This will replace the separate rule making bodies that currently exist for family proceedings in the different levels of court.
The Committee has made its first Rules - the Family Procedure (Adoption) Rules 2005, which came into force on 30th December 2005. The Committee is in a transitional stage and has not yet acquired its full powers to make rules for all family proceedings in all levels of family court.
In the interim the Family Proceedings Rule Committee will make rules of court in the High Court and county courts under section 40 of the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Act 1984.
Additionally in the interim, rules for family proceedings in the magistrates' courts will be made by the Lord Chief Justice, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, and on the advice of or in consultation with the Magistrates' Courts Rule Committee.
Membership of the Family Procedure Rule Committee is prescribed in section 77 of the Courts Act 2003. All members of the Rule Committee are appointed, with the exception of any ex officio member, in accordance with the Office of the Commission for Public Appointment's Code of Practice.
| Name | Position | Term of Office Current Expiry |
|---|---|---|
| The Right Honourable Sir Mark Potter |
President of the Family Division | Chairman and ex officio |
| The Right Honourable Lord Justice Wall |
Judge of the Court of Appeal | 31/10/08 |
| The Honourable Mr Justice Charles |
Judge of the High Court | 31/10/07 |
| Her Honour Judge Angela Finnerty |
Circuit Judge | 31/10/08 |
| Senior District Judge Philip Waller |
District Judge of the Principal Registry of the Family Division | 31/10/07 |
| District Judge Duncan Adam |
District Judge (County Court) | 31/10/08 |
| District Judge Katharine Marshall |
District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) | 31/10/09 |
| Martyn Cook | Justice of the Peace | 31/10/07 |
| John Baker | Justices' Clerk | 31/10/08 |
| Jane Probyn | Barrister | 31/10/07 |
| Charles Hyde QC | Barrister | 31/10/08 |
| Susan Jones | Barrister | 31/10/09 |
| David Salter | Solicitor | 31/10/09 |
| Bruce Edgington | Solicitor | 31/10/07 |
| Clive Redley | Solicitor | 31/10/08 |
| Mike Hinchcliffe | Children & Family Court Advisory Support Service (CAFCASS) | 05/02/10 |
Family Procedure Rule Committee annual reports
[6 September 2006]
Family Procedure Rule Committee publication scheme March 2006
write to us at:
Secretary to the Family Procedure Rule Committee Her Majesty's Court Service
Selborne House
54-60, Victoria Street
London
SW1E 6QW