Commentary on Sections: Part 6 Flexibility in deployment of judicial resources Section 65: District Judges (Magistrates’ Courts) as Crown Court judges etc.
158.Unification of the administration of the criminal courts should provide scope for rationalising the work of the magistrates’ and Crown Courts, enabling both to do some of the work currently reserved to each. For example, District Judges could deal with and make orders in relation both to allocation and to other interlocutory issues in cases reserved to the Crown Court. This will be further eased by the revised allocation of cases provided by the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Revised allocation of cases ensures that cases are dealt with by the court at the appropriate level with regard to the complexity, value and proportionality of the case.