Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015

Directions as to distribution of business

3.—(1) The Lord Chief Justice may give directions as to—

(a) the distribution of the business of county courts among such courts;

(b) the transfer of such business from one county court to another;

(c) the distribution of the business of magistrates’ courts among such courts;

(d) the transfer of such business from one magistrates’ court to another.

(2) For the purpose of subsection (1) “the business of county courts” includes—

(a) all such proceedings and matters whatsoever (whether civil or criminal) as under any statutory provision are to be heard by a county court (of any description);

(b) all such other things as under any statutory provision are to be done by, or in relation to, a county court (of any description).

(3) For the purpose of subsection (1) “the business of magistrates’ courts” includes—

(a) all such proceedings and matters whatsoever (whether civil or criminal) as under any statutory provision are to be heard by a magistrates’ court (of any description);

(b) all such other things as under any statutory provision are to be done by, or in relation to a magistrates’ court (of any description).

(4) The Department may give directions as to—

(a) the distribution among chief clerks of the functions exercisable under any statutory provision by a chief clerk;

(b) the distribution among clerks of petty sessions of the functions exercisable under any statutory provision by a clerk of petty sessions.

(5) In any statutory provision—

(a) a reference, in connection with any proceedings or matter, to the chief clerk is a reference to the chief clerk who, in accordance with directions under subsection (4), is to act in relation to those proceedings or that matter;

(b) a reference, in connection with any proceedings or matter, to the clerk of petty sessions is a reference to the clerk of petty sessions who, in accordance with directions under subsection (4), is to act in relation to those proceedings or that matter.