F1[107Deputy judges.N.I.

(1)The Lord Chancellor may appoint as deputy judge[F2 a person who is—

(a)a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least ten years' standing; or

(b)a solicitor of the Supreme Court of at least ten years' standing.]

(2)The appointment of a person as a deputy judge shall specify the term for which he is appointed.

(3)Subject to sub-section (4), the Lord Chancellor may, with the agreement of the deputy judge, from time to time extend, for such period as he thinks appropriate, the term for which the deputy judge is appointed.

[F3(4)Neither the initial term for which a deputy judge is appointed nor any extension of that term under subsection (3) shall be such as to continue his appointment as a deputy judge after the day on which he attains the age of seventy; but this subsection is subject to section 26(4) to (6) of the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 (F4. . . power to authorise continuance in office up to the age of 75).]

(5)A deputy judge shall, while he is so acting, have the like authority, jurisdiction, powers and privileges as a judge in all respects [F5 and a reference in any statutory provision to, or which is to be construed as a reference to, a county court judge shall, for the purposes of or in relation to any proceedings in a county court, be construed as including a reference to a deputy judge appointed under this section].

(6)Where the hearing of any proceedings duly commenced before any deputy judge is adjourned or judgment is reserved therein, that deputy judge shall, notwithstanding anything in sub-section (2) or (4), have power to resume the hearing and determine the proceedings or, as the case may be, to deliver the judgment so reserved.

(7)There shall be paid to every deputy judge, except a resident magistrate, such remuneration and allowances as the Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of[F6 the Treasury], determine.]