A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges. A modern system of statutory Recorders, on the other hand, has since 1971 appointed barristers and solicitors to part-time positions as judges, who sit for 3-6 weeks a year with the powers of Circuit Judges, but hearing only less serious cases in their jurisdiction.
Historic office and Honorary Recorders
In England and Wales, the Recorder was the senior judge of some important urban centres, whichj were given the right to appoint a Recorder by the Crown. Typically, the appointment would be given to a senior and distinguished practitioner at the Bar, and it was, therefore, usually executed part-time only, by a person whose usual practice was as a barrister. It carried a great deal of prestige.
The Recorder of London is a senior Circuit Judge sitting at the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey). The office has an ancient association with the City of London.
Since the Courts Act of 1971, the system has been put on a statutory footing and some new positions have been created (for example, Redbridge[1]). They are now usually filled by full-time judges as a reecognition of seniority. To distinguish them from the modern system of part-time Recorderships (see below) which was set up in 1971, historic and full-time Recorders are now usually designated "Honorary Recorders".
The senior circuit judge of a metropolitan area, for example Manchester, Liverpool or Cardiff, may have the title Honorary Recorder. The practice for appointment of Honorary Recorders is now to be found in the Lord Chief Justice's Guidelines for the Appointment of Honorary Recorders issued in October 2007.
Not all senior circuit judges are Honorary Recorders, but most Honorary Recorders are senior circuit judges.
In addition to the higher salary paid to senior circuit judges (compared with other circuit judges), most Honorary Recorders wear red robes (which carry more prestige) and are entitled to be addressed in Court as "My Lord" (like a High Court Judge) instead of "Your Honour" (like other circuit judges, including senior circuit judges who are not Honorary Recorders).
Recorders as part-time appointments
Since 1971, a system of part-time appointments has been in place in England and Wales, designed to give experience of judicial office to those not yet ready to take a full time appointment. It is now the practice to require all full time appointees to have had some part time judicial experience. The part-time appointees were initially designated as "Assistant Recorders", with a view to promotion to full "Recorders". The position of Assistant Recorder no longer exists, and all appointments are made as "Recorders".
Appointments are made by the Crown by Royal Warrant, on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor. Since 2006, however, the Lord Chancellor's recommendations are based upon an independent appointments process supervised by the Judicial Appointments Commission.
In the Courts of England and Wales, a Recorder is a barrister or solicitor of at least 10 years' standing who is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Lord Chancellor to hold part-time judicial office. A Recorder acting as such has all the powers of a Circuit judge and may sit in the Crown Court or in the County Court. If appointed to do so under section 9(1) of the Supreme Court Act 1981, a Recorder may sit as a part time High Court Judge.
A Recorder is paid a daily fee and is expected to sit as a judge for between 3 and 6 weeks a year.
United States
In some U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions, the Recorder's Court is a local court of limited jurisdiction, most often hearing misdemeanors, traffic violations, and other petty criminal offenses.
Biblical usage
In historic times, the recorder was the chancellor or vizier of the kingdom. He brought all weighty matters under the notice of the king, such as complaints, petitions, and wishes of subjects or foreigners. He also drew up papers for the king's guidance, and prepared drafts of the royal will for the scribes. All treaties came under his oversight; and he had the care of the national archives or records, to which, as royal historiographer, he added the current annals of the kingdom.
References
- M.G. Easton (1897). Easton's Bible Dictionary. Grand Rapids, MI: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. source.
