Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978

6 Until the coming into force of section 69(1)—

(a) the Lord Chancellor, with the concurrence of the Minister for the Civil Service as to numbers and terms and conditions of service, may, subject to section 70, appoint such officers and other staff for the Supreme Court, county courts, magistrates' courts, the Enforcement of Judgments Office and coroners' courts as appear to him to be necessary and such officers and staff shall discharge their functions in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chancellor;

(b) any person heretofore holding office or serving in or in connection with—

(i) a court mentioned in the first column of the Table mentioned in paragraph 1 shall except as provided by Part VI of this Act or Part III of this Schedule, continue in corresponding office or service in or in connection with the court specified opposite that court in the second column of that Table as if he had been appointed under sub-paragraph (a) upon the terms and conditions on which he heretofore held office or served ;

(ii) county courts, magistrates' courts, the Enforcement of Judgments Office or coroners' courts shall continue to do so as if he had been appointed under sub-paragraph (a) upon the terms and conditions on which he heretofore held office ;

(iii) county courts shall be deemed to be an officer of the Crown Court.