The Court of Referees is a twelve-member committee of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, established in 1865.[1][2] It is tasked with considering the rights of a petitioner (until 2017 known as their locus standi) to argue against a private bill, in cases where the promoters of the bill have challenged that right.[1][2]

It is chaired by the Chairman of Ways and Means (the principal Deputy Speaker).[1][2] The other members are the other two Deputy Speakers, the Speaker's Counsel (the Speaker's legal adviser) and eight backbench MPs.[1][2]

Three of the court's members, or referees, form a quorum.[2] The court meets rarely;[1] Erskine May reporting that "The court met once in 2016; prior to that meeting, it had last met in 2002".[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Court of Referees - MPs' Guide to Procedure - UK Parliament". Guide to Procedure. United Kingdom Parliament. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "The Court of Referees". Erskine May. Retrieved 18 October 2021.

Further reading

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