PART IIRESIDENT MAGISTRATES AND JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

Appointment and removal of resident magistrates

F1[9Appointment and assignment of resident magistrates.

(1)

Her Majesty mayF2. . . appoint fit and proper persons to be resident magistrates, being persons who at the dates of their appointmentsF3 are—

(a)

members of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least seven years' standing; or

(b)

solicitors of theF4Court of Judicature of at least seven years' standing.

Subs. (2) rep. by 2002 c. 26

(3)

A resident magistrate shall sit in accordance with directions given by theF5Lord Chief Justice.

(4)

A resident magistrate may, in accordance with such directions, sit F6in any magistrates' court .

(5)

Subject to subsections (3) and (4), theF5Lord Chief Justice may assign a resident magistrate to one or more F7divisions and may from time to time vary any such assignment.]

F8(6)

In subsection (5) “division” means an administrative court division specified under section2 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 for all or the residual purposes of a magistrates' court.

10Appointment of deputy resident magistrates.

F9(1)

The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission may appoint fit and proper persons, being persons who are eligible for appointment as district judges (magistrates' courts), to act as deputy district judges (magistrates' courts)—

(a)

during such period or periods as the Commission, with the agreement of the F10Department of Justice, may direct, and

(b)

subject to such conditions as the Lord Chancellor may impose.

(2)

Any deputy resident magistrate may exercise and perform all the functions of a resident magistrate.

11Removal of resident magistrates from office.

F11. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .