5.—(1) Section 51(1) of the Act (re-employment of former Appeal Sheriffs) has effect as if the reference in it to a qualifying former Appeal Sheriff included a reference to a qualifying former sheriff principal.
(2) For that purpose, a “qualifying former sheriff principal” is an individual who—
(a)prior to the commencement of section 49(1) of the Act—
(i)held office as a sheriff principal; and
(ii)ceased to hold that office other than by virtue of an order under section 12E of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971 (removal from office)(1); and
(b)has not reached the age of 75.
1971 c.58; section 12E was inserted by the Judiciary and Courts (Scotland) Act 2008 (asp 6), section 40.