Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978

29 Co-ordination of exercise of jurisdiction in relation to persons under disability

(1) Rules of court may make provision for ensuring that where—

(a) a cause or matter affecting a person under a disability of any kind is brought before a judge of the High Court other than a judge ("the assigned judge") to whom causes or matters particularly affecting persons under a disability of that kind are assigned; or

(b) any question affecting such a person arises in a cause or matter so brought;

any conflict between the exercise of jurisdiction by the judge seised of the proceedings (" the seised judge ") and the assigned judge is avoided and the exercise of those jurisdictions is co-ordinated.

(2) For example, in relation to minors the rules may make provision for the purposes of—

(a) enabling the seised judge to make an order making a minor a ward of court, if he considers it proper to do so, and to transfer the cause or matter to the assigned judge;

(b) enabling or requiring the seised judge to refer the question of wardship to the assigned judge ;

(c) empowering the seised judge, where a question arising in the proceedings affects the welfare (including care, custody or control) or property of a minor who is already a ward of court, either—

(i) to refer the question to the assigned judge, or

(ii) to make such order as he considers necessary to dispose of the question (not being an order which conflicts with an order previously made in wardship proceedings affecting the minor),

and enabling an order made by virtue of sub-paragraph (ii) to be varied or discharged;

(d) requiring the seised judge—

(i) when he makes an order and transfers a cause or matter as mentioned in paragraph (a), or

(ii) when he makes a reference as mentioned in paragraph (b), or

(iii) when he makes a reference or order as mentioned in paragraph (c),

to furnish to the assigned judge a report on the relevant facts and proceedings together with such observations and recommendations as he thinks fit;

(e) empowering the assigned judge, on a cause or matter being transferred to him or a question being referred to him, to proceed as though it had originated before him.

(3) Rules of court shall provide for the transmission to the Office of Care and Protection of a copy of an order made by the seised judge—

(a) which relates to a person under a disability which brings him within the jurisdiction of that Office ;

(b) which makes a minor a ward of court; or

(c) which the judge directs be so transmitted.