(1)The office of stipendiary magistrate is abolished.
(2)Subsection (3) applies to a person who, immediately before this section comes into force, holds office as a full-time stipendiary magistrate.
(3)The person is to be appointed, by virtue of this subsection, as a summary sheriff unless the person declines the appointment.
(4)Subsection (3) applies regardless of whether the person is qualified for appointment as a summary sheriff.
(5)Subsection (6) applies to a person who, immediately before this section comes into force, holds office as a part-time stipendiary magistrate.
(6)The person is to be appointed, by virtue of this subsection, as a part-time summary sheriff unless the person declines the appointment.
(7)Subsection (6) applies regardless of whether the person is qualified for appointment as a part-time summary sheriff.
(8)A person appointed—
(a)as a summary sheriff by virtue of subsection (3) is to be treated for all purposes as if appointed as such under section 5(2),
(b)as a part-time summary sheriff by virtue of subsection (6) is to be treated for all purposes as if appointed as such under section 10(1).