About us
The Criminal Procedure Rules govern the way criminal cases are managed, and set out the processes of the criminal courts.
Our responsibilities
We’re responsible for:
- making new Criminal Procedure Rules
- simplifying the existing rules
- discussing our decisions with the most appropriate people before our decisions are finalised
Our priorities
Our priorities are to:
- make the criminal justice system as accessible, fair and efficient as possible
- ensure that the rules are simply worded and easy to understand
Membership
The Criminal Procedure Rule Committee consists of the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales and 17 people appointed by the Lady Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor under section 70 of the Courts Act 2003.
The Lady Chief Justice is The Rt Hon. The Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill. The other members of the Committee are:
Member | Capacity | Term of office ends on/to be reviewed by | |
---|---|---|---|
The Rt Hon Lord Justice, Holroyde (deputy chairman | Court of Appeal judge | 31 Aug 2026 | |
The Rt Hon. Lord Justice William Davis | Court of Appeal judge | 31 Aug 2025 | |
The Hon. Mrs Justice Foster DBE | High Court judge | 31 Aug 2025 | |
HH Judge Patrick Field KC | Circuit judge | 31 Aug 2025 | |
Her Honour Judge Heather Norton | Circuit judge | 31 Aug 2026 | |
Michael Oliver | District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts) | 31 Aug 2028 | |
David Barrand | Magistrate | 31 Aug 2027 | |
Amy McEvoy | Justices’ legal adviser | 31 Aug 2027 | |
Ed Lidington | Lord Chancellor’s nominee | 31 Aug 2025 | |
Stephen Parkinson | Director of Public Prosecutions | ex officio (by right of office) | |
Jacob Hallam KC | Barrister | 31 Aug 2028 | |
Paul Jarvis | Barrister | 31 Aug 2027 | |
Shade Abiodun | Solicitor | 31 Aug 2025 | |
Edmund Smyth | Solicitor | 31 Aug 2027 | |
Chief Constable Rob Nixon | National Police Chiefs’ Council | 31 Aug 2025 | |
Rebecca White | Voluntary organisation | 31 Aug 2027 | |
Robert Thomas | Voluntary organisation | 31 Aug 2027 |
Meeting agendas and minutes
Corporate information
Jobs and contracts
Our Personal information charter explains how we treat your personal information.