(1)Her Majesty mayF2. . . appoint fit and proper persons to be resident magistrates, being persons who at the dates of their appointments[F3 are—
(a)members of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least seven years' standing; or
(b)solicitors of the[F4Court 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 the[F5Lord Chief Justice].
(4)A resident magistrate may, in accordance with such directions, sit [F6in any magistrates' court] .
(5)Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the[F5Lord 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.]
F2Words in s. 9(1) omitted (12.4.2010) by virtue of Northern Ireland Act 2009 (c. 3), ss. 2(4), 5(7)(a), Sch. 5 para. 3; S.I. 2010/812, art. 2
F4Words in s. 9(1)(b) substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 59(5), 148(1), Sch. 11 para. 6(1); S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(d)
F5Words in s. 9(3)(5) substituted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15(2), 148(1), Sch. 5 para.16; S.I. 2006/1014, art.2(a), Sch. 1 para. 12(a)
F6Words in s. 9(4) substituted (31.10.2016) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 1 para. 57(2)(a) (with Sch. 8 para. 1); S.R. 2016/387, art. 2(k) (with art. 3)
F7Words in s. 9(5) substituted (31.10.2016) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 1 para. 57(2)(b) (with Sch. 8 para. 1); S.R. 2016/387, art. 2(k) (with art. 3)
F8S. 9(6) added (31.10.2016) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 1 para. 57(2)(c) (with Sch. 8 para. 1); S.R. 2016/387, art. 2(k) (with art. 3)