F1[(1)Her Majesty may appoint as judges such qualified persons as may be recommended to Her by theF2 Lord Chancellor.
(2)A judge shall sit in the county court in accordance with directions given by theF3F4 Lord Chancellor.
(3)A judge may, in accordance with such directions, sit as a judge for any division.
(4)Subject to sub-sections (2) and (3), theF3F4 Lord Chancellor shall assignF5 one judge to each division and may from time to time vary any such assignment.
(5)The judgeF6 assigned to the division which is or includes—
(a)the area of the city of Belfast shall be styled the Recorder of Belfast;
(b)the area of the city of Londonderry shall be styled the Recorder of Londonderry.]
F7[(6)In this Act “judge” means a county court judge, that is to say a judge appointed under this section.]
F2By Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26), ss. 5, 87, Sch. 3 para. 3 it is provided that for the words "Lord Chancellor" there shall be substituted (prosp.) "First Minister and deputy First Minister, acting jointly" in s. 102(1). (This amendment does not come into operation before the said amending Sch. 3 is subsequently substituted (12.4.2010) by the Northern Ireland Act 2009 (c. 3), Sch. 3 para. 13; S.I. 2010/812, art. 2. This new Sch. 3 of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26) does not amend other legislation, therefore this amendment never comes into operation.)
F3By Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26), ss. 12(2), 87, Sch. 5 para. 1 it is provided that for the words "Lord Chancellor" there shall be substituted (prosp.) "Lord Chief Justice" in s. 102(2) and (4). (This amendment does not come into operation before the said amending Sch. 5 is subsequently repealed (3.4.2006) by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), Sch. 18 Pt. 3; S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 30(c). By Sch. 5 para. 8 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), the exact same amendment does come into operation on (3.4.2006) (see relevant version.))
F5prosp. subst., 2002 c. 26
F6prosp. inserted, 2002 c. 26