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Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978

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Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978

1978 CHAPTER 23

An Act to make provision with respect to the constitution, jurisdiction and proceedings of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland; to establish as part of that Court a Crown Court to try indictments and exercise other jurisdiction in Northern Ireland in relation to criminal cases and to abolish courts of assize there and deal with their jurisdiction; to make, as respects Northern Ireland, provision for the administration of courts; to provide for certain rules of law in judicial matters in Northern Ireland and to amend the law regarding county courts, magistrates' courts and justices of the peace in Northern Ireland and otherwise with respect to the administration of justice there.

[30th June 1978]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

PART IConstitution of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland

1The Supreme Court

There shall be a Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern The Supreme Ireland (in this Act referred to as " the Supreme Court") which Court, shall consist of—

(a)Her Majesty's High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland to this Act referred to as " the High Court");

(b)Her Majesty's Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland (in this Act referred to as " the Court of Appeal"); and

(c)Her Majesty's Crown Court in Northern Ireland (in this Act referred to as " the Crown Court"),

with such jurisdiction as is respectively conferred on those courts by this Act or by any other statutory provision.

2The High Court

(1)The High Court shall consist of the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland (in this Act referred to as "the Lord Chief Justice") who shall be president thereof and not more than six puisne judges who shall be styled " Judges of the High Court".

(2)All the judges of the High Court shall, save as in this Act otherwise expressly provided, have in all respects equal jurisdiction and shall be addressed in the manner in which judges of the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland were customarily addressed heretofore.

(3)Her Majesty may by Order in Council from time to time amend subsection (1) so as to vary the maximum number of puisne judges.

(4)No recommendation shall be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order under this section unless a draft of the Order has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

3The Court of Appeal

(1)The Court of Appeal shall consist of the Lord Chief Justice who shall be president thereof and three other judges who shall be styled " Lords Justices of Appeal ".

(2)Every judge of the High Court shall be a judge of the Court of Appeal for the purposes of its jurisdiction in a criminal cause or matter and for those purposes shall have all the jurisdiction of a judge of the Court of Appeal.

(3)All the judges of the Court of Appeal shall, save as in this Act otherwise expressly provided, have in all respects equal jurisdiction and shall be addressed in the manner in which judges of the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland were customarily addressed heretofore.

(4)Her Majesty may by Order in Council from time to time amend subsection (1) so as to vary the number of Lords Justices of Appeal.

(5)No recommendation shall be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order under this section unless a draft of the Order has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

4The Crown Court

(1)There shall be a Crown Court in Northern Ireland whose jurisdiction shall be exercisable by the Lord Chief Justice who shall be president thereof, any judge of the High Court or the Court of Appeal or any county court judge.

(2)The persons mentioned in subsection (1) shall, when exercising the jurisdiction of the Crown Court, be judges of the Crown Court but a county court judge shall not, except whet exercising such jurisdiction, be deemed to be a judge of the Supreme Court.

(3)In any statutory provision relating to the Crown Court (including a provision of this Act) references to a judge of the High Court shall include references to a judge of the Court of Appeal.

5Divisions of the High Court

(1)There shall be three divisions of the High Court, namely—

(a)the Chancery Division ;

(b)the Queen's Bench Division ; and

(c)the Family Division.

(2)Her Majesty may by Order in Council from time to time create additional divisions of the High Court or provide that any division be abolished and any such Order in Council may contain such provision as may be necessary or proper for that purpose.

(3)A judge of the High Court may sit in any division.

(4)Without prejudice to any statutory provision relating to or affecting the distribution of business in the High Court, all jurisdiction vested in the High Court shall belong to all the divisions alike.

6Judges of one court empowered to assist another

(1)A Lord Justice of Appeal may at any time at the request of the Lord Chief Justice sit and act as a judge of the High Court.

(2)A judge of the High Court shall, if requested to do so by the Lord Chief Justice, sit and act as a judge of the Court of Appeal when that court is exercising jurisdiction other than jurisdiction in a criminal cause or matter.

7Further assistance for transaction of judicial business

(1)A person who not being a judge of the High Court or the Court of Appeal—

(a)holds or has held the office of a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and before his appointment to that office had practised for not less than ten years at the Bar of Northern Ireland ; or

(b)has held the office of a judge of the High Court or the Court of Appeal,

may at any time at the request of the Lord Chancellor sit and act as a judge of the High Court or the Court of Appeal.

(2)A county court judge shall, if requested to do so by the Lord Chancellor, sit and act as a judge of the High Court.

(3)If it appears to the Lord Chancellor that it is expedient as a temporary measure to make an appointment under this subsection in order to facilitate the disposal of business in the High Court or the Crown Court he may appoint a person qualified for appointment as a judge of the High Court to sit and act as a judge of the High Court.

(4)For any period during which a person who does not hold office as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary or as a county court judge sits and acts under this section there may be paid to him such remuneration and allowances as the Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of the Minister for the Civil Service, determine.

8Additional provisions as to persons rendering judicial assistance

(1)A person may sit and act under section 6 or 7 as a judge of a court for the purpose of a particular case or cases or during a specified period and whether or not all the judges of that court are sitting or are available to sit.

(2)Every person while sitting and acting under section 6 or 7 shall, subject to subsection (3), be treated for all purposes as, and accordingly may perform any of the functions of, a judge of the court in which he is sitting and acting.

(3)A person shall not by virtue of subsection (2) be treated as a judge of the court in which he is sitting and acting for the purposes of any statutory provision relating to—

(a)the appointment, retirement, removal or disqualification of judges of that court;

(b)the tenure of office and oaths to be taken by such judges; or

(c)the remuneration, allowances or pensions of such judges.

(4)A person who has sat and acted under section 6 or 7 as a judge of any court shall, although any period has expired during which he was so sitting and acting, attend the sittings of that court for the purpose of giving judgment in or otherwise acting in relation to any case heard by him or by that court while he so sat and acted.

9Qualifications of judges of High Court and Court of Appeal

(1)Any person who has practised for not less than ten years at the Bar of Northern Ireland shall be qualified for appointment as a judge of the High Court.

(2)Any person who—

(a)is a judge of the High Court; or

(b)has practised for not less than fifteen years at the Bar of Northern Ireland,

shall be qualified for appointment as a Lord Justice of Appeal.

(3)Any person who—

(a)is, or is qualified for appointment as, a Lord Justice of Appeal; or

(b)holds the office of a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and before his appointment to that office had practised for not less than ten years at the Bar of Northern Ireland,

shall be qualified for appointment as Lord Chief Justice.

10Judicial precedence

(1)The Lords Justices of Appeal shall rank among themselves according to the priority of their appointment as judges of the Court of Appeal.

(2)The judges of the High Court shall rank next after the judges of the Court of Appeal and among themselves according to the priority of their appointment as judges of the High Court.

11Exercise of functions of Lord Chief Justice

(1)Anything which by virtue of this Act or any other statutory provision is for the time being authorised or required to be done to or by the Lord Chief Justice may, if the Lord Chief Justice is not available because of absence or other reason or if his office is vacant, be done during such unavailability or vacancy to or by the senior Lord Justice of Appeal who is available.

(2)Nothing in subsection (1) shall confer on a Lord Justice of Appeal the power of making a permanent appointment to any office.

12Appointment of judges

(1)Whenever the office of a judge of the High Court or of a Lord Justice of Appeal is vacant, a person may be appointed thereto by Her Majesty by letters patent under the Great Seal of Northern Ireland.

(2)Whenever the office of Lord Chief Justice becomes vacant, a successor may be appointed by Her Majesty by letters patent, under the Great Seal of Northern Ireland.

13Tenure of office, oath, etc.

(1)Subject to section 2 of the [1959 c. 9.] Judicial Pensions Act 1959, the Lord Chief Justice, every Lord Justice of Appeal and every judge of the High Court shall hold his office during good behaviour subject to a power of removal by Her Majesty on an address presented to Her Majesty by both Houses of Parliament.

(2)Subject to subsection (3), the Lord Chief Justice, every Lord Justice of Appeal and every judge of the High Court shall, before he enters on the execution of his office, take, in the presence of the Lord Chancellor, the oath of allegiance and the judicial oath as defined by the [1868 c. 72.] Promissory Oaths Act 1868.

(3)When the Great Seal of the United Kingdom is in commission, the senior Lord Commissioner for the time being shall represent the Lord Chancellor for the purposes of subsection (2).

14Vacation of office

(1)The Lord Chief Justice, a Lord Justice of Appeal or a judge of the High Court may vacate his office by resignation in writing under his hand addressed to the Lord Chancellor.

(2)The High Court and the Court of Appeal shall be deemed to be duly constituted during and notwithstanding any vacancy in the office of any judge of either court.

(3)Nothing in subsection (1) shall affect the operation of section 12 of the [1973 c. 15.] Administration of Justice Act 1973 (retirement of higher judiciary in the event of incapacity).

15Power of judges to act in cases relating to rates and taxes

(1)The Lord Chief Justice, a Lord Justice of Appeal, a judge of the High Court or a judge of the Crown Court shall not be incapable of acting in his judicial office in any proceeding by reason of his being as one of several ratepayers or as one of any other class of persons liable, in common with others, to contribute to or eligible to be benefited by any rate or tax which may be increased, diminished or in any way affected by that proceeding.

(2)In this section the expression " rate or tax " means any rate, tax, duty or assessment whether public, general or local, and also any fund formed from the proceeds of any such rate, tax, duty or assessment, or applicable to the purposes to which any such rate, tax, duty or assessment might be applied or similar purposes.

PART IIThe High Court

General jurisdiction

16General jurisdiction of the High Court and its judges

(1)The High Court shall be a superior court of record.

(2)There shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be exercisable by the High Court—

(a)all such jurisdiction as was heretofore capable of being exercised by the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland",

(b)such other jurisdiction as is conferred by this Act or as may from time to time be conferred on the High Court by any subsequent statutory provision.

(3)The jurisdiction vested in the High Court shall, save as provided by this Act, include the jurisdiction heretofore capable of being exercised by the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland or by any division or judge or officer thereof in pursuance of any statutory provision, prerogative, law or custom and also all ministerial and other powers, duties and authorities incident to any and every part of the jurisdiction so vested.

(4)In addition to the jurisdiction and functions exercisable by him under or by virtue of any other provision of this Act, the Lord Chief Justice may, save as provided by this Act, exercise all the jurisdiction and ministerial and other powers, duties and authorities which, in pursuance of any statutory provision, prerogative, law or custom, were heretofore capable of being exercised by the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland otherwise than as a judge of the High Court or Court of Appeal.

(5)Except where a statutory provision otherwise provides, any jurisdiction of the High Court or a division thereof shall be exercised by a single judge.

(6)The generality of this section is not limited by any other provision of this Act.

17Assignment of business to judges

Without prejudice to section 5(3), the Lord Chief Justice may assign to any judge of the High Court any part of the business of that court or of any division thereof and, in particular, may assign to such a judge, to be known as the Chancery Judge, the whole or any part of the business of the Chancery Division.

Supervisory and declaratory jurisdiction

18Application for judicial review

(1)Rules of court shall provide for a procedure, to be known as an application for judicial review, under which application may be made to the High Court for one or more of the following forms of relief, that is to say, relief by way of—

(a)an order of mandamus;

(b)an order of certiorari;

(c)an order of prohibition ;

(d)a declaration;

(e)an injunction.

(2)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the rules shall provide—

(a)that leave of the court shall be obtained before any application for judicial review, other than an application for an order of certiorari by the Attorney General acting on behalf of the Crown, is made ;

(b)that such leave shall not be granted if, having regard to the nature of the persons and bodies against whom relief may be granted by way of an order of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari, the court is satisfied that the case is one in respect of which relief could not be granted by way of any such order;

(c)that, where leave is so obtained, the grounds relied on and the relief granted shall only be one or more of those specified in the application;

(d)that the court may direct, or grant leave for, the application to be amended to specify different or additional grounds or relief; and

(e)that the court may, subject to subsection (6), direct pleadings to be delivered or authorise or require oral evidence to be given where this appears to the court to be necessary or desirable.

(3)On an application for judicial review the court may grant any of the forms of relief mentioned in subsection (1)(a) to (e) which the applicant has claimed and to which he appears to be entitled whether or not he appears to be entitled to any of the other forms of relief so mentioned, whether claimed or not.

(4)The court shall not grant any relief on an application for judicial review unless it considers that the applicant has a sufficient interest in the matter to which the application relates.

(5)Without prejudice to section 25 of this Act or to section 160 of the [1964 c. 21 (N.I.).] Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964, where, on an application for judicial review, the court finds that—

(a)the sole ground of relief established is a defect in form or a technical irregularity; and

(b)no substantial wrong and no miscarriage of justice has occurred or no remedial advantage could accrue to the applicant,

the court may refuse relief and, where a lower deciding authority has exercised jurisdiction, may make an order, having effect from such time and on such terms as the court thinks just, validating any decision or determination of the lower deciding authority or any act done in consequence thereof notwithstanding that defect or irregularity.

(6)No return shall be made to orders of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari and no pleadings in prohibition shall be allowed but, subject to any right of appeal, such orders shall be final.

(7)For references in any statutory provision coming into operation as respects Northern Ireland before 15th September 1965 to a writ of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari there shall be substituted references to the corresponding order and for references to the issue or award of any such writ there shall be substituted references to the making of the corresponding order.

19Stay and interim relief

On an application for judicial review, the High Court may grant a stay of proceedings or of enforcement of an order or may grant such interim relief as it considers appropriate pending final determination of the application.

20Damages

In proceedings on an application for judicial review the High Court may, in lieu of or in addition to any other relief, award damages to an applicant, if—

(a)he has, in accordance with rules of court, joined with his application a claim for damages arising from any matter to which the application relates ; and

(b)the court is satisfied that, if such claim had been made in a separate action begun by the applicant at the time of making his application, he would have been entitled to such damages.

21Power to remit matter or reverse or vary decision

Without prejudice to section 18(5), where on an application for judicial review—

(a)the relief sought is an order of certiorari; and

(b)the High Court is satisfied that there are grounds for quashing the decision in issue,

the court may, instead of quashing the decision, remit the matter to the lower deciding authority concerned, with a direction to reconsider it and reach a decision in accordance with the ruling of the court or may reverse or vary the decision of the lower deciding authority.

22Extension of supervisory powers of High Court 23. Declaratory judgments

(1)Any statutory provision to the effect that any order or determination shall not be called into question in any court, or which by similar words excludes any of the powers of the High Court, shall not operate so as to—

(a)prevent the removal of the proceedings into the High Court by order of certiorari; or

(b)prejudice the powers of the High Court to make orders of mandamus.

(2)This section does not apply to—

(a)section 26 of the [1948 c. 56.] British Nationality Act 1948;

(b)any statutory provision specially authorising applications to the High Court within a time limited by that provision ; or

(c)a statutory provision passed or made on or after 1st August 1958.

23Declaratory judgments.

(1)No action or other proceeding shall be open to objection on the ground that a merely declaratory judgment or order is sought thereby.

(2)The High Court may make binding declarations of right in any action or other proceeding whether or not any consequential relief is or could be claimed therein.

(3)Notwithstanding that the events on which a right depends may not have occurred, the High Court may in its discretion make a binding declaration of right if it is satisfied that—

(a)the question for decision involves a point of general public importance or that it would in the circumstances be unjust or inconvenient to withhold the declaration ; and

(b)the interests of persons not parties to the proceedings would not be unjustly prejudiced by the declaration.

24Injunction concerning public office

(1)Where a person is acting or has acted in an office to which this section applies without being entitled so to act, the High Court, on an application under this section, may—

(a)grant an injunction restraining him from so acting;

(b)declare the office to be vacant.

(2)This section applies to any substantive office of a public nature and permanent character which is held under the Crown or has been created by or under a statutory provision or royal charter.

25Power of High Court to vary sentence on certiorari

(1)Where a person has been sentenced for an offence by a magistrates' court or, on appeal, by a county court and an application is made to the High Court for an order of certiorari to remove the proceedings of the magistrates' court or the county court into the High Court, and the High Court determines that the magistrates' court or county court had no power to pass the sentence, the High Court may, instead of quashing the conviction, amend it by substituting for the sentence passed any sentence which the magistrates' court had power to impose.

(2)Any sentence passed by the High Court by virtue of this section in substitution for the sentence passed in the proceedings of the magistrates' court or county court shall, unless the High Court otherwise directs, begin to run from the time when it would have begun to run if passed in those proceedings.

(3)Subsections (1) and (2) shall apply, with the necessary modifications, in relation to any order of a magistrates' court or county court which is made on, but does not form part of, the conviction of an offender as they apply in relation to a conviction and sentence.

(4)The High Court may release from custody a person who has been convicted or sentenced by a magistrates' court or, on appeal, by a county court and has applied to the High Court for an order of certiorari to remove the proceedings of the magistrates' court or the county court into the High Court on his entering into a recognizance, with or without sureties, conditioned for his appearance within ten days after the judgment of the High Court is given, unless the conviction or sentence is quashed by that judgment.

(5)The time during which a person is admitted to bail under this section shall not count as any term of imprisonment or detention under his sentence, and any sentence of imprisonment or detention imposed by a magistrates' court or, on appeal, by a county court after the imposition of which a person is so admitted to bail shall be deemed to begin to run or to be resumed as from the date on which he is received under the sentence in the prison or other place where he is to be detained.

(6)Rules of court may prescribe the persons before whom and the manner in which a recognizance under subsection (4) shall be entered into by a person applying for an order of certiorari and the manner in which such a recognizance may be enforced and may authorise the recommittal of persons so applying.

Jurisdiction in relation to persons under disability

26Wards of court

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, no minor shall be made a ward of court except by virtue of an order to that effect made by the High Court.

(2)Where application is made for such an order in respect of a minor, the minor shall become a ward of court on the making of the application, but shall cease to be a ward of court at the expiration of such period as may be prescribed, unless within that period an order has been made in accordance with the application.

(3)The High Court may, either upon an application in that behalf or without such an application, order that any minor who is for the time being a ward of court shall cease to be a ward of court.

(4)The power of the High Court to make a minor a ward of court or to make an order in relation to a minor who is a ward of court may be exercised irrespective of whether or not the minor has property of any kind.

27Maintenance of wards of court

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, the High Court may make an order—

(a)requiring either parent of a ward of court to pay to the other parent; or

(b)requiring either parent or both parents of a ward of court to pay to any other person having the care and control of the ward,

such weekly or other periodical sums towards the maintenance and education of the ward as the court thinks reasonable having regard to the means of the person or persons on whom the requirement is imposed.

(2)An order under subsection (1) may require such sums as are mentioned in that subsection to continue to be paid in respect of any period after the date on which the person for whose benefit the payments are to be made ceases to be a minor but not beyond the date on which he attains the age of twenty-one, and any order made as aforesaid may provide that any sum which is payable thereunder for the benefit of that person after he has ceased to be a minor shall be paid to that person himself.

(3)Subject to the provisions of this section, where a person who has ceased to be a minor but has not attained the age of twenty-one has at any time been the subject of an order making him a ward of court, the court may, on the application of either parent of that person or of that person himself, make an order requiring either parent to pay to the other parent, to anyone else for the benefit of that person or to that person himself, in respect of any period not extending beyond the date on which he attains the said age, such weekly or other periodical sums towards his maintenance or education as the court thinks reasonable having regard to the means of the person on whom the requirement in question is imposed.

(4)The court shall have power from time to time by an order under this section to vary or discharge any previous order thereunder.

(5)In this section " parent", in relation to a person (" the child ") who is or has been a ward of court, includes, where the child is illegitimate, a natural parent, where the child has been adopted, an adoptive parent, and where the child (not being a child boarded-out with them by a local or public body or a voluntary organisation) has been treated by spouses as a child of their family, either of those spouses.

28Jurisdiction with respect to property and affairs of patients

(1)Subject to subsections (2) and (3), there is hereby vested in the High Court all jurisdiction in matters relating to patients heretofore exercisable by the Lord Chief Justice or any other person under the [1871 c. 22.] Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871 or any other statutory provision or by virtue of Her Majesty's Sign Manual.

(2)The legal visitors and medical visitors mentioned in the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871 shall be appointed by the Lord Chief Justice and shall be known as the Lord Chief Justice's Visitors.

(3)In this section " matters relating to patients " includes all matters relating to the care and commitment of the custody of idiots, lunatics and persons of unsound mind and their estates and relating to the guardianship of persons of weak mind.

29Co-ordination of exercise of jurisdiction in relation to persons under disability

(1)Rules of court may make provision for ensuring that where—

(a)a cause or matter affecting a person under a disability of any kind is brought before a judge of the High Court other than a judge ("the assigned judge") to whom causes or matters particularly affecting persons under a disability of that kind are assigned; or

(b)any question affecting such a person arises in a cause or matter so brought;

any conflict between the exercise of jurisdiction by the judge seised of the proceedings (" the seised judge ") and the assigned judge is avoided and the exercise of those jurisdictions is co-ordinated.

(2)For example, in relation to minors the rules may make provision for the purposes of—

(a)enabling the seised judge to make an order making a minor a ward of court, if he considers it proper to do so, and to transfer the cause or matter to the assigned judge;

(b)enabling or requiring the seised judge to refer the question of wardship to the assigned judge ;

(c)empowering the seised judge, where a question arising in the proceedings affects the welfare (including care, custody or control) or property of a minor who is already a ward of court, either—

(i)to refer the question to the assigned judge, or

(ii)to make such order as he considers necessary to dispose of the question (not being an order which conflicts with an order previously made in wardship proceedings affecting the minor),

and enabling an order made by virtue of sub-paragraph (ii) to be varied or discharged;

(d)requiring the seised judge—

(i)when he makes an order and transfers a cause or matter as mentioned in paragraph (a), or

(ii)when he makes a reference as mentioned in paragraph (b), or

(iii)when he makes a reference or order as mentioned in paragraph (c),

to furnish to the assigned judge a report on the relevant facts and proceedings together with such observations and recommendations as he thinks fit;

(e)empowering the assigned judge, on a cause or matter being transferred to him or a question being referred to him, to proceed as though it had originated before him.

(3)Rules of court shall provide for the transmission to the Office of Care and Protection of a copy of an order made by the seised judge—

(a)which relates to a person under a disability which brings him within the jurisdiction of that Office ;

(b)which makes a minor a ward of court; or

(c)which the judge directs be so transmitted.

Admiralty jurisdiction

30High Court to have exclusive original jurisdiction in admiralty

The High Court shall, subject to section 46(3), have exclusive original jurisdiction in admiralty and, accordingly, a county court shall not have jurisdiction to hear any admiralty cause or matter and the admiralty jurisdiction conferred on the Court of the Recorder of Belfast by section 55 of, and Part I of Schedule 1 to, the [1956 c. 46.] Administration of Justice Act 1956 is hereby abolished.

Miscellaneous powers of High Court

31Remittal and removal of proceedings

(1)The High Court may in accordance with rules of court at any stage remit to a county court the whole or any part of any civil proceedings to which this subsection applies if—

(a)the parties consent to the remittal thereof;

(b)the court is satisfied upon the application of any party to proceedings involving an unliquidated claim that the full amount of that claim is likely to be within the monetary limit of the jurisdiction of the county court;

(c)the court is satisfied, whether upon the application of any party or otherwise, that the subject matter of the proceedings (not being an unliquidated claim) is or is likely to be within the limits of the jurisdiction of the county court; or

(d)the claimant abandons the right to recover any amount in excess of the monetary limit of the jurisdiction of the county court,

and in any such case the court is of the opinion that in all the circumstances the proceedings may properly be heard and determined in the county court.

(2)Subsection (1) applies to civil proceedings commenced in the High Court of a kind which the county court would, apart from any limitation by reason of amount or value or annual value, have jurisdiction to hear and determine if commenced in that court.

(3)Proceedings remitted under this section shall be remitted to such county court as the High Court may specify, being either a county court in which the proceedings could, apart from any limitation by reason of amount or value or annual value, have been commenced or, with the concurrence of the parties, any other county court appearing to the High Court to be convenient.

(4)Where proceedings are remitted to a county court under this section, the county court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine those proceedings and—

(a)the county court shall have the like jurisdiction as the High Court as to the giving of any relief claimed, including (but without prejudice to the generality of this provision) the amount of damages that may be awarded; and

(b)the parties to the proceedings shall have the like right of appeal as if the proceedings had been commenced in the county court.

(5)The High Court may in accordance with rules of court at any stage remove to that court from a county court and hear and determine the whole or any part of any civil proceedings which could have been commenced in the High Court but have been commenced in that county court if—

(a)the parties consent to the removal thereof; or

(b)on the application of any party the court is satisfied that there is a triable issue,

and in either such case the court is of opinion that, by reason of the nature of the proceedings, the amount of the claim or the value or annual value of the subject matter, the proceedings are not within the jurisdiction of the county court or that the proceedings could in all the circumstances be more appropriately heard and determined in the High Court.

(6)The High Court may require any party on whose application any proceedings are removed to that court to give security of such nature and amount as that court may by order direct.

(7)This section shall not apply to the following proceedings, namely—

(a)applications for adoption orders (including provisional adoption orders);

(b)applications under section 17 of the [1882 c. 75.] Married Women's Property Act 1882;

(c)proceedings under section 57 of the [1958 c. 23 (N.I.).] Trustee Act (Northern Ireland) 1958;

(d)appeals under section 13 of the [1964 c. 13 (N.I.).] Agricultural Marketing Act (Northern Ireland) 1964.

(8)This section shall apply to proceedings by and against the Crown, but—

(a)in its application to proceedings against the Crown this section shall have effect subject to the provisions of section 20(2) of the [1947 c. 44.] Crown Proceedings Act 1947 as they extend to Northern Ireland ;

(b)nothing in subsection (6) shall have effect so as to require or to authorise the making of an order requiring security to be given by the Crown ;

(c)no proceedings by the Crown shall be remitted to a county court without the consent of the Crown;

(d)nothing in this section shall apply to proceedings affecting Her Majesty in Her private capacity.

(9)For the purposes of this section—

(a)the amount of a claim shall be taken as the amount remaining in dispute after allowance has been made for any payment, set off or other amount admitted by tender or otherwise to be due and after any abandonment by the claimant of any amount by which the sum claimed exceeds the monetary limit of the jurisdiction of the county court;

(b)the full amount of an unliquidated claim shall be taken as the amount which would be recoverable if no deduction were made in respect of the claimant's own fault;

(c)in determining whether an amount exceeds the monetary limit of the jurisdiction of the county court, no account shall be taken of any power exercisable by virtue of section 17 of the [1937 c. 9 (N.I.).] Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1937 or of any order made in the exercise of such a power ;

(d)" proceedings " includes proceedings on a counterclaim ; and

(e)" the Crown" includes the Crown in right of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and in right of Her Majesty's Government in Northern Ireland.

32Restriction on institution of vexatious actions

(1)If, on an application made by the Attorney General under this section, the High Court is satisfied that any person has habitually and persistently and without any reasonable ground instituted vexatious legal proceedings, whether in the High Court or in any inferior court or tribunal, and whether against the same person or against different persons, the court may, after hearing that person or giving him an opportunity of being heard, order—

(a)that no legal proceedings shall without the leave of the High Court be instituted by him in any court or tribunal;

(b)that any legal proceedings instituted by him in any court or tribunal before the making of the order shall not be continued by him without such leave ;

and such leave shall not be given unless the court is satisfied that the proceedings are not an abuse of the process of the court and that there is prima facie ground for the proceedings.

(2)The court may in its discretion assign a solicitor or counsel to any person against whom an order is sought under this section and the expenses of any such solicitor or counsel shall be taxed and paid out of the legal aid fund.

(3)A notice of the making of any order under this section shall be published in the Belfast Gazette.

33Execution of instruments by order of court

Where any person neglects or refuses to comply with a judgment or order directing him to execute any conveyance, contract or other document or to endorse any negotiable instrument, the High Court may, on such terms and conditions, if any, as may be just, order that the conveyance, contract or other document shall be executed or that the negotiable instrument shall be endorsed by such person as the court may nominate for that purpose, and a conveyance, contract, document or instrument so executed or endorsed shall operate and be for all purposes available as if it had been executed or endorsed by the person originally directed to execute or endorse it.

PART IIIThe Court of Appeal and the House of Lords

34General jurisdiction of Court of Appeal

(1)The Court of Appeal shall be a superior court of record.

(2)There shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be exercisable by the Court of Appeal—

(a)all such jurisdiction as was heretofore capable of being exercised by the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland ;

(b)all such jurisdiction as was heretofore capable of being exercised by the Court of Criminal Appeal;

(c)such other jurisdiction as is conferred by this Act or as may from time to time be conferred on the Court of Appeal by any subsequent statutory provision.

(3)The Court of Criminal Appeal shall cease to exist and in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this section—

(a)any reference in any statutory provision in force before the commencement of this section to the Court of Criminal Appeal, except where it occurs in a reference to a judge or a registrar of the Court of Criminal Appeal, shall be construed as a reference to the Court of Appeal;

(b)any reference in any such statutory provision to a judge of the Court of Criminal Appeal shall be construed as a reference to a judge of the Court of Appeal or of the High Court;

(c)any reference in any such statutory provision to the registrar of the Court of Criminal Appeal shall be construed as a reference to the Master (Queen's Bench and Appeals).

(4)The generality of this section is not limited by any other provision of this Act

35Appeals to Court of Appeal from High Court

(1)Subject as otherwise provided in this or any other statutory provision, the Court of Appeal shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine in accordance with rules of court appeals from any judgment or order of the High Court or a judge thereof.

(2)No appeal to the Court of Appeal shall lie—

(a)except as provided by the following provisions of this Part from any judgment of the High Court in any criminal cause or matter;

(b)from an order allowing an extension of time for appealing from a judgment or order ;

(c)from an order of a judge giving unconditional leave to defend an action;

(d)from an order or judgment of the High Court or any judge thereof where it is provided by or by virtue of any statutory provision that that order or judgment or the decision or determination upon which it is made or given is to be final;

(e)from a decree absolute for the dissolution or nullity of marriage by a party aggrieved thereby who, having had time and the opportunity to appeal from the decree nisi on which the decree absolute was founded, has not appealed from that decree nisi;

(f)without the leave of the court or judge making the order, from an order of the High Court or a judge thereof made with the consent of the parties or as to costs only;

(g)without the leave of the judge or of the Court of Appeal, from any interlocutory order or judgment made or given by a judge of the High Court, except in the following cases namely:—

(i)where the liberty of the subject or the custody of minors is concerned ;

(ii)where an injunction or the appointment of a receiver is granted or refused ;

(iii)in the case of a decision determining the claim of any creditor or the liability of any contributory or the liability of any director or other officer under the [1960 c. 22 (N.I.).] Companies Act (Northern Ireland) 1960 in respect of misfeasance or otherwise ;

(iv)in the case of a decree nisi in a matrimonial cause or a judgment or order in an admiralty action determining liability;

(v)in the case of an order on a special case stated under the [1937 c. 8 (N.I.).] Arbitration Act (Northern Ireland) 1937 ;

(vi)in such other cases as may be prescribed being cases appearing to the Rules Committee to be of the nature of final decisions ;

(h)from the decision of the High Court on any question of law, whether on appeal or otherwise, under sections 107 to 136 of the [1949 c. 68.] Representation of the People Act 1949 ;

(i)from a decision granting or refusing a certificate under section 12 of the [1969 c. 58.] Administration of Justice Act 1969.

(3)An order refusing unconditional leave to defend an action shall not be deemed to be an interlocutory order within the meaning of this section.

(4)Subject to subsection (3), any doubt which may arise as to what orders or judgments are final and what are interlocutory shall be determined by the Court of Appeal.

(5)Notwithstanding any provision of this section or of any other statutory provision, where any decision of a court in Northern Ireland involves the decision of any question as to the validity of any provision made by or under an Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland or a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the decision is not otherwise subject to any appeal to the Court of Appeal or the House of Lords an appeal shall lie to the Court of Appeal by virtue of this subsection.

(6)Where under any statutory provision passed or made before the commencement of this Act an appeal, either by way of case stated or upon a point of law only, lies from any lower deciding authority to the High Court or to a judge of the Supreme Court and the decision of any such court or judge is expressed to be final, such appeal shall lie instead to the Court of Appeal, and the decision of that court shall be final.

36Composition of Court of Appeal

(1)Subject to the provisions of this and the next following section and section 48 of the Criminal Appeal Act, every appeal or reference to the Court of Appeal and every matter preliminary or incidental to such appeal or reference shall be heard before three judges of that court and shall, where necessary, be determined according to the opinion of the majority.

(2)Where the Lord Chief Justice so directs, any such appeal, reference or matter may be heard before two judges.

(3)Where in accordance with subsection (2) an appeal, reference or matter is heard before two judges and those judges differ in opinion—

(a)it shall, in the case of a criminal cause or matter, be re-heard and determined by three judges ;

(b)it may, in any other case, be so re-heard and determined on the application of any party thereto.

(4)No judge of the Court of Appeal shall sit as a judge on the hearing of, or shall determine any application in proceedings incidental or preliminary to—

(a)an appeal against a conviction before him or a sentence passed by him ; or

(b)an appeal from a judgment or order of that judge when sitting in the High Court or of a court of the High Court of which he was a member;

(c)a reference to the Court of Appeal under the Criminal Appeal Act of any case or any point arising in any case tried before him.

(5)Unless the Court of Appeal directs to the contrary in a case where it considers the question to be one of law on which it would be convenient that separate judgments should be pronounced by the members of the court, on an appeal under Part II of the Criminal Appeal Act—

(a)the judgment of the court shall be pronounced by the president of the court or such other member of the court hearing the case as the president directs; and

(b)no judgment with respect to the determination of any question shall be separately pronounced by any other member of the court.

37Powers of a single judge in Court of Appeal

(1)Subject to section 36(4), a single judge of the Court of Appeal may exercise any of the following powers of the Court of Appeal under Part II of the Criminal Appeal Act, namely the power—

(a)to give leave to appeal;

(b)to extend the time within which notice of appeal or of application for leave to appeal may be given ;

(c)to allow an appellant to be present at any proceedings;

(d)to order a witness to attend for examination;

(e)to admit an appellant to bail;

(f)to make orders under section 14(2) of the Criminal Appeal Act and discharge or vary such orders ;

(g)to grant legal aid under section 23(2) of the Criminal Appeal Act;

(h)to give directions under section 33(2) of the Criminal Appeal Act;

(i)to hear and determine such other matters preliminary or incidental to an appeal as may be prescribed.

(2)In any cause or matter pending before the Court of Appeal, other than an appeal under the Criminal Appeal Act, any direction incidental thereto not involving the decision of the appeal may be given by a single judge of that court, and a single judge of that court may at any time during vacation make an order granting leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal or any interim order to prevent prejudice to the claims of any parties pending an appeal as he may think fit.

(3)An appellant who is aggrieved by the decision of a single judge on any matter under subsection (1) shall be entitled to have the matter re-heard and determined by the Court of Appeal as constituted under section 36 and every order made under subsection (2) by a single judge, other than an order granting leave to appeal, may be discharged or varied by the Court of Appeal.

38Powers of court for purposes of appeals

(1)For all the purposes of and incidental to the hearing or determination of any appeal, other than an appeal under the Criminal Appeal Act, against any decision or determination of a court, tribunal, authority or person (in this section referred to as " the original court") and the amendment or enforcement of any judgment or order made thereon, the Court of Appeal shall, in addition to all other powers exercisable by it, have all the jurisdiction of the original court and may—

(a)confirm, reverse or vary the decision or determination of the original court;

(b)remit the appeal or any matter arising thereon to the original court with such declarations or directions as the Court of Appeal may think proper;

(c)in the case of an appeal from a decision or determination of the High Court, order a retrial or make any such order as could be made in pursuance of an application for a new trial;

(d)adjourn the hearing from time to time;

(e)draw any inference of fact which might have been drawn or give any judgment or make any order which might have been given or made by the original court and make such further or other order as the case may require;

(f)where the appeal is by case stated, amend the case stated or remit it, with such declarations or directions as the court may think proper, for hearing and determination by the original court or for re-statement or amendment or for a supplemental case to be stated thereon ;

(g)make such order as to costs and expenses incurred in the appeal and in the proceedings in the original court as the Court of Appeal thinks fit;

(h)in special circumstances order that such security shall be given for the costs of an appeal as may be just;

(i)make such other order as may be necessary for the due determination of the appeal.

(2)The powers of the Court of Appeal in respect of an appeal to which subsection (1) applies—

(a)shall not be restricted by reason of any interlocutory order from which there has been no appeal; and

(b)may be exercised notwithstanding that no notice of appeal or respondent's notice has been given in respect of any particular part of the decision of the original court or by any particular party to the proceedings in that court or that any ground for allowing the appeal or for affirming or varying the decision of that court is not specified in such a notice;

and the Court of Appeal may make any order, on such terms as the court thinks just, to ensure the determination on the merits of the real question in controversy between the parties,

(3)It shall be the duty of the original court to have regard to all such declarations and to obey all such directions, if any, as may be given by the Court of Appeal pursuant to subsection (1).

(4)Judgments and orders made by the Court of Appeal shall have the like effect and may be enforced in like manner as judgments and orders made by the original court.

39Appeals to Court of Appeal under Criminal Appeal Act

Parts II and IV of, and Schedules 1 and 2 to, the Criminal Appeal Act as modified by the provisions of this Act shall have effect for the purposes of appeals to the Court of Appeal against convictions before or sentences passed by the Crown Court and for the purposes of references to the Court of Appeal under that Act, and the Court of Appeal shall have full power to determine, in accordance with that Act, any question necessary to be determined for the purpose of doing justice in the case before the court.

40Appeals to House of Lords under Criminal Appeal Act

(1)Parts III and IV of the Criminal Appeal Act as modified by the provisions of this Act shall have effect for the purposes of appeals to the House of Lords from decisions of the Court of Appeal under Part II of that Act and references to the House of Lords under that Act.

(2)Except as provided by Parts III and IV of the Criminal Appeal Act, the determination by the Court of Appeal of any appeal or other matter under Part II of that Act shall be final and no appeal shall lie from any such determination to any other court.

41Appeals to House of Lords in other criminal matters

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, an appeal shall lie to the House of Lords, at the instance of the defendant or the prosecutor,—

(a)from any decision of the High Court in a criminal cause or matter;

(b)from any decision of the Court of Appeal in a criminal cause or matter upon a case stated by a county court or a magistrates' court.

(2)No appeal shall he under this section except with the leave of the court below or of the House of Lords; and, subject to section 45(3), such leave shall not be granted unless it is certified by the court below that a point of law of general public importance is involved in the decision and it appears to that court or to the House of Lords, as the case may be, that the point is one which ought to be considered by that House.

(3)Section 5 of the [1876 c. 59.] Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 (which regulates the composition of the House of Lords for the hearing and determination of appeals) shall apply to the hearing and determination of an appeal or application for leave to appeal under this section as it applies to the hearing and determination of an appeal under that Act; and any order of that House which provides for the hearing of such applications by a committee constituted in accordance with the said section 5 may direct that the decision of that committee shall be taken on behalf of the House.

(4)For the purpose of disposing of an appeal under this section the House of Lords may exercise any powers of the court below or may remit the case to that court.

(5)Schedule 1 shall have effect in relation to appeals under this section.

(6)In this section, sections 44 and 45 and Schedule 1—

(a)any reference to the defendant shall be construed—

(i)in relation to proceedings for an offence, and in relation to an application for an order of mandamus, prohibition or certiorari in connection with such proceedings, as a reference to the person who was or would have been the defendant in those proceedings;

(ii)in relation to any proceedings or order for or in respect of contempt of court, as a reference to the person against whom the proceedings were brought or the order was made ;

(iii)in relation to a criminal application for habeas corpus, as a reference to the person by or in respect of whom that application was made,

and any reference to the prosecutor shall be construed accordingly;

(b)" application for habeas corpus " means an application for a writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum and references to a criminal application or civil application shall be construed accordingly as the application does or does not constitute a criminal cause or matter ;

(c)"leave to appeal" means leave to appeal to the House of Lords under this section ;

(d)an appeal under this section shall be treated as pending until any application for leave to appeal is disposed of and, if leave to appeal is granted, until the appeal is disposed of and an application for leave to appeal shall be treated as disposed of at the expiration of the time within which it may be made, if it is not made within that time.

42Appeals to House of Lords in civil cases

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section and to any restriction imposed by any statutory provision which has effect by virtue of subsection (6), an appeal shall lie to the House of Lords from any order or judgment of the Court of Appeal in any civil cause or matter.

(2)No appeal shall lie under this section except with the leave of the Court of Appeal or the House of Lords.

(3)Sections 4 and 5 of the [1876 c. 59.] Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 (which respectively provide for the bringing of appeals under that Act by way of petition and regulate the composition of the House for the hearing and determination of such appeals) shall apply to an appeal under this section and to the hearing and determination thereof as they apply respectively to an appeal under that Act and to the hearing and determination thereof.

(4)The House of Lords may by order provide for the hearing and determination by a Committee of that House of petitions for leave to appeal under this section from the Court of Appeal, and the said section 5 shall apply to the hearing and determination of any such petition by a Committee of that House as, by virtue of the last foregoing subsection, it applies to the hearing and determination of an appeal under this section.

(5)Section 11 of the said Act of 1876 (which relates to the manner in which, and conditions on which, appeals lie to the House of Lords under that Act) shall have effect as if the references therein to that Act included references to this section.

(6)No appeal from an order or judgment of the Court of Appeal shall, unless it involves a decision of any question as to the validity of any provision made by or under an Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland or a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly, lie under this section in a case where by any statutory provision, including a provision of this Act, it is expressly provided (whatever form of words is used) that that order or judgment is to be final.

43Appeals to House of Lords from High Court

Nothing in this Part of this Act affects the operation of Part II of the [1969 c. 58.] Administration of Justice Act 1969 (which provides that an appeal from the High Court shall in certain circumstances lie direct to the House of Lords).

44Appeal in cases of contempt of court

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, an appeal shall lie under this section from any order or decision of a court in Northern Ireland in the exercise of jurisdiction to punish for contempt of court (including criminal contempt); and in relation to any such order or decision the provisions of this section shall have effect in substitution for any other statutory provision relating to appeals in civil or criminal proceedings.

(2)An appeal under this section shall lie in any case at the instance of the defendant and, in the case of an application for committal or attachment, at the instance of the applicant; and the appeal shall lie—

(a)from an order or decision of any inferior court (including a county court) or of a single judge of the High Court, or of any court having the powers of the High Court or a judge of that court, to the Court of Appeal;

(b)from an order or decision of the Court of Appeal (including an order or a decision of that court on an appeal under this section) and from an order or decision of the High Court, other than an order or decision of a single judge thereof, or of the Courts-Martial Appeal Court, to the House of Lords.

(3)The court to which an appeal is brought under this section may reverse or vary the order or decision of the court below, and make such other order as may be just; and, without prejudice to the inherent powers of any court referred to in subsection (2), provision may be made by rules of court for authorising the release on bail of an appellant under this section.

(4)Subsections (2) to (4) of section 41 and paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 shall apply to an appeal to the House of Lords under this section, as they apply to an appeal to that House under the said section 41 except that so much of the said subsection (2) as restricts the grant of leave to appeal shall apply only where the decision of the court below is a decision on appeal to that court under this section.

(5)In this section " court" includes any tribunal or person having power to punish for contempt; and references in this section to an order or decision of a court in the exercise of jurisdiction to punish for contempt include references—

(a)to an order or decision of the High Court or a county court under any statutory provision enabling that court to deal with an offence as if it were contempt of court;

(b)to an order or decision of a county court under section 57 or 141 of the [1959 c. 25 (N.I.).] County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 or under section 70 or 140 of that Act so far as those sections confer jurisdiction in respect of contempt of court;

(c)to an order or decision of a magistrates' court under section 114 of the [1964 c. 21 (N.I.).] Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964;

but do not include references to orders under any provision of the [1959 c. 25 (N.I.).] County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 or the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964, except those referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c).

(6)This section does not apply to a conviction or sentence in respect of which an appeal lies under Part II of the Criminal Appeal Act or to a decision of the Court of Appeal under that Part of that Act; and for the purposes of that Act and of this subsection an order for the punishment of any person for contempt of court in proceedings in which he has a right of appeal against his sentence shall be treated as a sentence in those proceedings.

45Appeal in habeas corpus proceedings

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, an appeal shall lie, in any proceedings upon application for habeas corpus, whether civil or criminal, against an order for the release of the person restrained as well as against the refusal of such an order.

(2)No appeal shall lie by virtue of this section from an order made by a single judge on a criminal application for habeas corpus.

(3)In relation to a decision of the High Court on a criminal application for habeas corpus, section 41 shall have effect as if so much of subsection (2) of that section as restricts the grant of leave to appeal were omitted.

(4)Except as provided by paragraph 4 of Schedule 1 in the case of an appeal against an order of the High Court on a criminal application, an appeal brought by virtue of this section shall not affect the right of the person restrained to be discharged in pursuance of the order under appeal and (unless an order under sub-paragraph (1) of that paragraph is in force at the determination of the appeal) to remain at large regardless of the decision on appeal.

PART IVThe Crown Court

46Exclusive jurisdiction in trial on indictment

(1)The Crown Court shall be a superior court of record.

(2)All proceedings on indictment shall be brought before the Crown Court.

(3)The jurisdiction of the Crown Court under subsection (2) shall include jurisdiction—

(a)in proceedings on indictment for offences, wherever committed, which are cognisable under the law of Northern Ireland; and

(b)in particular, in proceedings on indictment for offences triable in Northern Ireland by virtue of any jurisdiction in admiralty.

(4)All courts of assize are hereby abolished, and commissions, whether ordinary or special, to hold any court of assize shall not be issued.

(5)The jurisdiction conferred on county courts by section 40 of the [1959 c. 25 (N.I.).] County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 is hereby abolished.

(6)Subject to any provision contained in or having effect under this Act, all statutory provisions and rules of law relating to the jurisdiction and procedure of any court in connection with indictable offences shall have effect subject only to such modifications as are rendered necessary by the transfer of jurisdiction to the Crown Court in accordance with the preceding provisions of this section.

(7)Subject to any provision contained in or having effect under this Act and without prejudice to the generality of subsection (6), the transfer of jurisdiction to the Crown Court in accordance with the preceding provisions of this section shall not affect—

(a)the practice by which, on any one indictment, the taking of pleas, the trial by jury and the pronouncement of judgment may respectively be by or before different judges;

(b)the release, after respite of judgment, of a convicted person on recognizance to come up for judgment if called on, but meanwhile to be of good behaviour;

(c)the manner of trying any question relating to the breach of a recognizance ; or

(d)the manner of execution of any sentence on conviction,

or the manner in which any other judgment or order given in connection with trial on indictment may be enforced.

47Exercise of jurisdiction by Crown Court

(1)All proceedings in the Crown Court shall be heard and disposed of before a single judge, and—

(a)any Crown Court business may be conducted at any place in Northern Ireland ;

(b)sittings of the Crown Court at any place may be continuous or intermittent or occasional;

(c)judges may sit simultaneously to take any number of different cases in the same or in different places, and all or any of them may adjourn cases from time to time and may do so from place to place at any time.

(2)The judges of the High Court and the county court shall sit in the Crown Court in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chancellor and the cases or classes of cases suitable for allocation to judges of the High Court and to county court judges respectively and all other matters relating to the distribution of Crown Court business shall be determined in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice.

(3)The places at which the Crown Court sits and the days and times when the Crown Court sits at any place shall be determined in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice.

(4)Subject to any provision contained in or having effect under this Act, the Crown Court shall, in relation to the attendance and examination of witnesses, any contempt of court, the enforcement of its orders and all other matters incidental to its jurisdiction, have the like powers, rights and authority as the High Court or the county court.

(5)Officers of the Crown Court shall be responsible for the keeping of the records of the proceedings of the court, the notification to those concerned of the place and time appointed for any proceedings or other business and such other formal or administrative matters as may be specified by directions given by the Lord Chancellor.

(6)The Royal Ulster Constabulary shall give effect to any orders or directions which may be given to it by the Crown Court.

48Committal for trial on indictment

(1)A magistrates' court committing a person for trial shall specify the place at which he is to be tried, and in selecting that place shall have regard to—

(a)the convenience of the defence, the prosecution and the witnesses;

(b)the expediting of the trial; and

(c)any directions given by the Lord Chancellor under section 47(2).

(2)Without prejudice to the preceding provisions of this Act about the distribution of Crown Court business, the Crown Court may give directions or further directions altering the place of any trial on indictment, either by varying the decision of a magistrates' court under subsection (1) or a previous direction of the Crown Court.

(3)The defendant or the prosecutor, if dissatisfied with the place of trial as fixed by the magistrates' court or by the Crown Court, may apply to the Crown Court for a direction or further direction varying the place of trial; and the court shall take the matter into consideration and may grant or refuse the application, or give such other direction as the court thinks fit.

(4)Any application under subsection (3) shall be heard by a judge in open court.

(5)The trial of a person committed by a magistrates' court—

(a)shall not begin until the expiration of the specified period beginning with the date of his committal, except with his consent and the consent of the prosecutor; and

(b)shall, unless the Crown Court has otherwise ordered, begin not later than the expiration of the specified period beginning with the date of his committal (that is to say a period longer than the period specified for the purposes of paragraph (a) above for the proceedings in question).

For the purposes of this subsection—

(i)" the specified period" means such period for the respective purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b) as may be specified by Crown Court rules and the rules may make different provision for different places of trial or for other different circumstances ;

(ii)the trial shall be deemed to begin when the defendant is arraigned.

(6)Directions under subsection (2) may be given on behalf of the Crown Court by an officer of the Crown Court, but the power to make orders conferred on the Crown Court by subsection (5)(b) shall be exercisable only by a judge of the court.

49Sentences imposed and other decisions made by Crown Court

(1)A sentence imposed, or other order made, by the Crown Court when dealing with an offender shall take effect from the beginning of the day on which it is imposed or made, unless the court otherwise directs.

(2)Subject to the following provisions of this section, a sentence imposed, or other order made, by the Crown Court when dealing with an offender may be varied or rescinded by the Crown Court within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the sentence or other order was imposed or made or, where subsection (3) applies, within the time allowed by that subsection.

(3)Where two or more persons are jointly tried on an indictment, then, subject to the following provisions of this section, a sentence imposed, or other order made, by the Crown Court on conviction of any of those persons on the indictment may be varied or rescinded by the Crown Court not later than the expiration of whichever of the following periods first expires, that is—

(a)the period of 28 days beginning with the date of conclusion of the joint trial;

(b)the period of 56 days beginning with the day on which the sentence or other order was imposed or made;

and for the purposes of this subsection the joint trial is concluded on the latest of the following dates, that is any date on which any of the persons jointly tried is sentenced or acquitted or on which a special verdict is brought in.

(4)A sentence or other order shall not be varied or rescinded under this section except by the judge of the Crown Court by whom the sentence or other order was imposed or made.

(5)Subject to subsection (6), where a sentence or other order is varied under this section, the sentence or other order, as so varied, shall take effect from the beginning of the day on which it was originally imposed or made, unless the court otherwise directs.

(6)For the purposes of section 20(1) of the Criminal Appeal Act (time limit for notice of appeal or of application for leave to appeal) the sentence or other order shall be regarded as imposed or made on the day on which it is so varied.

(7)Crown Court rules—

(a)may, as respects cases where two or more persons are tried separately on the same or related facts alleged in one or more indictment, provide for extending the period prescribed by subsection (2);

(b)may, subject to the preceding provisions of this section, prescribe the cases and circumstances in which, and the time within which, any order or other decision made by the Crown Court may be varied or rescinded by the Crown Court.

50Right of audience

(1)A solicitor of the Supreme Court may appear in, conduct, defend and address the court in any proceedings in the Crown Court, other than proceedings of such description (if any) as may from time to time be specified in directions given by the Lord Chief Justice under this section.

(2)In considering whether to exercise his powers under this section the Lord Chief Justice shall have regard to any rights of audience heretofore exercised by solicitors at any trials on indictment and to any other circumstances affecting the public interest.

(3)Any direction given under this section may be subject to such conditions and restrictions as appear to the Lord Chief Justice to be necessary or expedient.

(4)Nothing in this section shall take away or affect the inherent powers of any court or judge to confer a right of audience.

51Process to compel appearance before Crown Court

(1)Any condition of a recognizance to appear before the Crown Court and any summons or order to appear before the Crown Court may be framed so as to require appearance at such time and place as may be directed by the Crown Court, and, if a time or place is specified in the condition, summons or order, it may be varied by any subsequent direction of the Crown Court.

(2)Where an indictment has been presented although the person charged has not been committed for trial, the Crown Court may issue a summons requiring that person to appear before the Crown Court or a warrant for his arrest.

(3)Where any person charged with or convicted of an offence has entered into a recognizance conditioned for his appearance before the Crown Court and in breach of that recognizance fails to appear, the Crown Court may, without prejudice to the enforcement of the recognizance, issue a warant for his arrest.

(4)The Crown Court may admit to bail, or direct the admission to bail of, any person—

(a)who has been committed in custody for appearance before the Crown Court; or

(b)who is in the custody of the Crown Court pending the disposal of his case by the Crown Court,

and the time during which a person is admitted to bail under any provision of this subsection shall not count as part of any term of imprisonment or detention under his sentence.

(5)Provision may be made by Crown Court rules as respects the powers of the Crown Court relating to bail, including any provision—

(a)allowing the court, instead of requiring a person to enter into a recognizance, to consent to his giving other security;

(b)allowing the court to direct that a recognizance shall be entered into or other security given before a magistrates' court or a justice of the peace or, if the rules so provide, a person of such other description as is specified in the rules;

(c)prescribing the manner in which a recognizance is to be entered into or other security given and the persons by whom and the manner in which the recognizance or security may be enforced ;

(d)authorising the recommittal, in such cases and by such courts or justices as may be prescribed by the rules, of persons released from custody in pursuance of the powers;

(e)making provision as to the varying or dispensing with requirements as to sureties and the postponement of taking recognizances.

(6)Any reference in any statutory provision to a recognizance shall include, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference to any other description of security given instead of a recognizance, whether in pursuance of subsection (5)(a) or otherwise.

(7)The Crown Court, on issuing a warrant for the arrest of any person, may endorse the warrant for bail, and in any such case—

(a)the person arrested under the warrant shall, unless the Crown Court otherwise directs, be taken to a police station, and

(b)the officer in charge of the station shall release him from custody if he, and any sureties required by the endorsement and approved by the officer, enter into recognizances of such amount as may be fixed by the endorsement.

(8)A person in custody in pursuance of a warrant issued by the Crown Court with a view to his appearance before the Crown Court shall be brought forthwith before either the Crown Court or any magistrates' court, and if he is brought before a magistrates' court—

(a)the court shall commit him in custody or release him on bail until he can be brought or appear before the Crown Court at the time and place appointed by the Crown Court; and

(b)if the warrant is endorsed for bail but the person in custody is unable to satisfy the conditions endorsed, the magistrates' court may vary those conditions if satisfied that it is proper to do so.

52Crown Court rules

(1)Subject to any statutory provision, the Crown Court Rules Committee appointed under section 53 may, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, make Crown Court rules for the purpose of regulating and prescribing—

(a)the practice and procedure to be followed in the Crown Court; and

(b)the form and content of indictments,

and in this or any other statutory provision having effect in Northern Ireland " Crown Court rules " means rules so made.

(2)Sections 1 and 2 of the [1945 c. 16 (N.I.).] Indictments Act (Northern Ireland) 1945 shall cease to have effect on such date as may be appointed in Crown Court rules made for the purpose mentioned in subsection (1)(b).

53Crown Court Rules Committee

(1)There shall be a committee known as the Northern Ireland Crown Court Rules Committee (in this Act referred to as the Crown Court Rules Committee) which, subject to section 54(2), shall consist of—

(a)the Lord Chief Justice who shall be chairman ;

(b)two judges of the High Court or the Court of Appeal nominated from time to time by the Lord Chief Justice ;

(c)two county court judges nominated by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice;

(d)a resident magistrate nominated by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice ;

(e)the Master (Queen's Bench and Appeals);

(f)a practising member of the Bar of Northern Ireland nominated by the Lord Chancellor;

(g)one other practising member of the Bar of Northern Ireland nominated by the Council thereof;

(h)the president of the Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland or a member of the Council thereof nominated by him;

(i)a practising solicitor nominated by that Council;

and shall have the functions conferred on it in relation to the making of Crown Court rules by section 52.

(2)The secretary to the Crown Court Rules Committee shall be such person as the Lord Chancellor may from time to time designate and such secretary shall, in relation to Crown Court rules, be the responsible officer within the meaning of sections 2 and 4 of the [1958 c. 18 (N.I.).] Statutory Rules Act (Northern Ireland) 1958.

(3)Sections 54(2), (3), (4) and (6), 55(3) and 56(1), (2) and (3) shall apply to the Crown Court Rules Committee and Crown Court rules as if references in those provisions to the Rules Committee and rules of court included references to the Crown Court Rules Committee and Crown Court rules respectively.

PART VPractice, Procedure and Trials

54The Supreme Court Rules Committee

(1)There shall be a committee known as the Northern Ireland Supreme Court Rules Committee (in this Act referred to as the Rules Committee) which, subject to subsection (2), shall consist of—

(a)the Lord Chief Justice who shall be chairman ;

(b)four judges of the High Court or the Court of Appeal nominated from time to time by the Lord Chief Justice;

(c)a practising member of the Bar of Northern Ireland nominated by the Lord Chancellor ;

(d)one other practising member of the Bar of Northern Ireland nominated by the Council thereof ;

(e)the president of the Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland or a member of the Council thereof nominated by him ; and

(f)a practising solicitor nominated by that Council,

and shall have the functions conferred on it in relation to the making of rules of court by section 55.

(2)Where any member of the Rules Committee is unable to act, the Lord Chief Justice or, in the case of a member nominated by any other authority or body, that authority or body may nominate another qualified person to act temporarily in his place.

(3)Rules of court may be made and other powers of the Rules Committee exercised at a meeting of the Rules Committee by a majority consisting of not less than four members of whom the chairman of the meeting shall be one.

(4)In the absence of the Lord Chief Justice, the senior judge present shall be chairman of the meeting.

(5)The joint secretaries to the Rules Committee shall be such persons as the Lord Chancellor, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, may from time to time designate and one of the persons so designated shall be either the Principal Secretary to the Lord Chief Justice or another officer serving in the Supreme Court.

(6)Any expenses incurred by the Rules Committee shall be paid by the Lord Chancellor.

55Rules of court

(1)Subject to any statutory provision, the Rules Committee may, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, make rules with respect to—

(a)the pleading, practice and procedure in or affecting, and the forms used in connection with, any proceedings before the High Court and the Court of Appeal or any division, office, judge or officer of either such court or any person appointed by, or to assist, it including—

(i)the mode of proof of any fact;

(ii)the assessment of damages, compensation or other sums;

(iii)the payment of money into and out of court;

(iv)the circumstances in which and the terms on which a stay of proceedings or execution may be granted or an interim order (including an order authorising interim payments) may be made;

(v)costs (including the taxation of costs and security to be given for costs);

(vi)the recording of proceedings and the making available of transcripts thereof; and

(vii)the impounding and release of documents or exhibits;

(b)the conditions subject to which process may be served out of the jurisdiction of the High Court;

(c)the manner in which, the time within which and the conditions on which steps in any such proceedings as are mentioned in paragraph (a) may or must be taken ;

(d)the transfer of proceedings to or from any such court, division, judge, officer or person as is mentioned in that paragraph;

(e)the practice and procedure of the High Court in non-contentious probate business;

(f)the practice and procedure to be followed in exercising jurisdiction over the person, property or affairs of persons under any disability; and

(g)the extent to which and the circumstances in which documents filed in any such proceedings as are mentioned in paragraph (a) may be inspected and copied.

(2)Subject to any statutory provision, the Rules Committee may, with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor, make rules—

(a)regulating the sittings of any court, division or judge to which or to whom subsection (1)(a) applies and any sittings of statutory officers or persons appointed by, or to assist, such a court;

(b)authorising the exercise by a judge of the High Court of jurisdiction while sitting in chambers and prescribing when a judge exercising such jurisdiction is to be deemed to constitute the High Court or a court of the High Court;

(c)providing for the distribution of business of the High Court amongst the several divisions of that court;

(d)requiring any prescribed part of the jurisdiction of the High Court to be exercised by two or more judges sitting together and fixing the number of judges by whom it shall be exercised ;

(e)prescribing what part of the business which may be transacted and of the jurisdiction which may be exercised by the High Court and the Court of Appeal may be transacted or exercised by statutory officers or officers serving in the Supreme Court and providing for the review of any jurisdiction exercised by such officers;

(f)regulating or providing for any other matter with respect to which the Committee is authorised to make rules under any other statutory provision (including any other provision of this Act) or for which provision was heretofore contained in rules of court made or deemed to have been made under section 7 of the [1962 c. 30.] Northern Ireland Act 1962;

(g)regulating or providing for any matter relating to practice or procedure heretofore regulated or provided for by a statutory provision repealed by section 122 and Schedule 7; and

(h)generally for the purposes of carrying any of the provisions of this Act into effect.

(3)Rules made by the Rules Committee may amend or repeal any statutory provision in force immediately before the commencement of this section or any statutory provision (including a provision of this Act) re-enacting any such statutory provision so far as may be necessary or expedient in consequence of provision made by the rules.

56Control and publication of rules

(1)Rules made by the Rules Committee shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament in like manner as a statutory instrument and section 5 of the [1946 c. 36.] Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply accordingly.

(2)The Rules Committee shall not, except with the concurrence of the Treasury, make a rule which may involve an increase in expenditure out of public funds; but the validity of such a rule shall not, in any proceedings in any court, be called in question either by the court or by any party to the proceedings on the ground only that the Treasury did not concur or are not expressed to have concurred in the making of the rule.

(3)The Rules Committee shall be an authority to which section 1(2)(1)(i) of the [1958 c. 18 (N.I.).] Statutory Rules Act (Northern Ireland) 1958 applies so that rules made by the Rules Committee shall be statutory rules for the purposes of that Act.

(4)Such of the joint secretaries to the Rules Committee as the Lord Chancellor may designate shall, in relation to rules of court, be the responsible officer within the meaning of sections 2 and 4 of the Statutory Rules Act (Northern Ireland) 1958.

57High Court and Court of Appeal to be continuing courts

(1)The High Court and the Court of Appeal shall be continuing courts with vacations regulated by rules of court.

(2)Rules of court shall provide for the hearing during vacation by judges and officers of the High Court and the Court of Appeal of all such causes and matters as may require to be immediately or promptly heard.

58Sittings of High Court and Court of Appeal

(1)Subject to rules of court, such numbers of judges and courts shall sit as may be required to dispose of the business of the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

(2)The places at which the High Court and the Court of Appeal sit outside the Royal Courts of Justice and the places outside the Royal Courts of Justice at which any other business of those courts may be conducted shall be determined in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chancellor.

(3)The High Court may, on the application of any party to an action or issue to be tried by the court, order that the trial be held in some other place if the court is of opinion that it would be more just or convenient for the trial to be so held.

59Award of costs

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act and to rules of court and to the express provisions of any other statutory provision, the costs of and incidental to all proceedings in the High Court and the Court of Appeal, including the administration of estates and trusts, shall be in the discretion of the court and the court shall have power to determine by whom and to what extent the costs are to be paid.

(2)Save as otherwise provided by any statutory provision passed after this Act or by rules of court, if damages or other relief awarded could have been obtained in proceedings commenced in the county court, the plaintiff shall not, except for special cause shown and mentioned in the judgment making the award, recover more costs than would have been recoverable had the same relief been awarded by the county court.

(3)Where any statutory provision whether passed before or after the commencement of this Act confers jurisdiction on the High Court or any judge thereof in regard to any matter without expressly conferring jurisdiction to award or deal otherwise with the costs of the proceedings connected with that matter, subsection (1) shall apply so as to authorise the court or judge, in its or his discretion, to award and deal with such costs.

(4)Nothing in this section shall alter the practice in any criminal cause or matter.

60Taxation of costs.

(1)The jurisdiction of the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court in relation to the taxation of costs shall be vested in the Master (Taxing Office) or such other statutory officer as may be designated for the purpose by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice and shall be exercised in accordance with rules of court.

(2)Costs may be taxed and recovered in any action notwithstanding the death of the party to or against whom those costs were awarded.

61Trial with assessors.

(1)In any cause or matter before the High Court or the Court of Appeal, other than a criminal proceeding by or in the name of the Crown, the court may, if it thinks it expedient so to do, call in the aid of one or more assessors specially qualified, and try and hear the cause or matter wholly or partly with their assistance.

(2)The remuneration, if any, to be paid to an assessor shall be determined by the court.

62Trial with and without jury

(1)Subject to subsection (2), an action or an issue of fact in an action in the High Court in which a claim is made in respect of—

(a)libel;

(b)slander;

(c)malicious prosecution;

(d)false imprisonment;

(e)personal injury or death alleged to have been caused by negligence, nuisance or breach of duty (whether the duty exists by virtue of a contract, or of provision made by or under a statutory provision or independently of any contract or any such provision),

shall, if any party to the action so requests, be tried with a jury.

(2)The court may, on the application of any party to an action referred to in subsection (1), order that the action or any (issue of fact in the action shall be tried without a jury if it is of opinion that such trial—

(a)will substantially involve matters of account;

(b)will require any protracted examination of documents or accounts or any technical, scientific or local investigation which cannot conveniently be made with a jury;

(c)will be unduly prolonged ; or

(d)is for any special reason (to be mentioned in the order) unsuitable to be tried with a jury.

(3)Subject to subsection (4), any other action or any issue of fact therein shall be tried without a jury.

(4)The court may, in any action referred to in subsection (3), order that the action or any issue of fact in the action shall be tried with a jury if it is of opinion that by reason of an allegation of actual fraud or actual undue influence or for some other reason the trial may more suitably be had with a jury.

(5)Subject to subsections (1) and (3), the High Court may in accordance with rules of court order that different questions of fact arising in any action be tried at different times or by different modes of trial.

(6)Her Majesty may by Order in Council from time to time amend this section so as to alter the classes of action in which and the terms and conditions on which a trial shall or may be had with a jury.

(7)No recommendation shall be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order under this section unless a draft of the Order has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

63Trial of challenge for cause in civil actions

Where an action or issue therein is to be tried in the High Court with a jury, any challenge to the array or to the polls for cause shall be tried by the judge before whom the jury is to be empanelled.

64Jury in civil actions

(1)The jury for the trial in the High Court of any action or any issue therein shall consist of seven persons, and in relation to such trial sections 41 and 42 of the [1871 c. 65.] Juries Act (Ireland) 1871 (which relate to the selection of a jury) shall have effect as if for the word " twelve " wherever occurring there were substituted the word " seven ".

(2)The trial judge may at his discretion at any stage in the course of such trial discharge the jury or any member or members thereof.

(3)Where in the course of such trial the jury is discharged, the trial may with the consent of the parties be continued without a jury.

(4)Where in the course of such trial any member of the jury dies or is discharged by reason of illness or any other cause, the jury shall at the discretion of the judge, so long as the number of its members is not reduced below six, and may with the consent of the parties so long as the number of its members is not reduced below four, be considered as remaining for all purposes properly constituted.

65Rules of court in relation to juries in civil actions

(1)Subject to this Act, rules of court may be made concerning the challenging, empanelling and discharge of jurors and juries and the conditions subject to which refreshment may be supplied to them at any stage of the trial of an action or issue therein and may prescribe the number of peremptory challenges, being not less than three or more than six, to be allowed to each party in civil proceedings.

(2)Unless and until such rules are made, the law in force at the commencement of this Act shall apply to the matters referred to in subsection (1).

66Certain affidavits taken abroad admissible without proof of seal etc.

A document purporting to have affixed or impressed on it or subscribed to it the seal or signature of a court, judge, notary public or person having authority to administer oaths in England and Wales, Scotland, the Republic of Ireland or any part of the Commonwealth in testimony of an affidavit being taken before it or him in such place shall be admitted in evidence without proof of the seal or signature being the seal or signature of that court, judge, notary public or person.

67Subpoenas in other parts of the United Kingdom

(1)In connection with any cause or matter in or pending before the High Court, the Court of Appeal or any inferior court or tribunal in aid of which the High Court may act, a judge of the High Court, or (in the case of a cause or matter in or pending before the Court of Appeal) of the Court of Appeal, may, if satisfied that it is proper to compel—

(a)the personal attendance at any proceedings of any witness not within the jurisdiction of the court; or

(b)the production by any such witness of any document or exhibit at any proceedings,

order that a writ of subpoena ad testificandum or writ of subpoena duces tecum shall issue in special form commanding the witness, wherever he shall be within the United Kingdom, to attend the proceedings, and the service of any such writ in any part of the United Kingdom shall be as valid and effectual to all intents and purposes as if it had been served within the jurisdiction of the court.

(2)A writ of subpoena ad testificandum or duces tecum may be issued under this section for the purpose of enforcing any order made by the High Court requiring any person to give evidence respecting any paper or writing being or purporting to be testamentary or to lodge in the Probate and Matrimonial Office any such paper or writing which may be shown to be in his possession or under his control.

(3)References in subsection (1) to proceedings include references to proceedings before an officer of a court or tribunal, an examiner or commissioner appointed by the court (including an examiner or commissioner appointed to take evidence outside the jurisdiction of the court) or an official or special referee or arbitrator.

(4)Every writ issued under this section shall have at its foot a statement to the effect that it is issued by the special order of a judge, and no such writ shall issue without such a special order.

(5)If any person served with a writ issued under this section does not appear as required by the writ, the High Court, on proof to the satisfaction of the court of the service of the writ and of the default, may transmit a certificate of the default under the seal of the court or under the hand of a judge of the court, if the service was in Scotland to the Court of Session in Edinburgh, and if the service was in England or Wales to the High Court of Justice in London, and the court to which the certificate is so sent shall thereupon proceed against and punish the person so having made the default in like manner as if that person had neglected or refused to appear in obedience to process issued out of that court.

(6)No court shall in any case proceed against or punish any person for having made such default as aforesaid unless it is shown to the court that a reasonable and sufficient sum of money to defray the expenses of coming and attending to give evidence and of returning from giving evidence was tendered to that person at the time when the writ was served upon him.

(7)Nothing in this section shall alter or affect—

(a)the power of the High Court to issue a commission for the examination of witnesses out of the jurisdiction of the court in any case in which, notwithstanding this section, the court thinks fit to issue such a commission ; or

(b)the admissibility of any evidence at any trial where such evidence was heretofore by law receivable on the ground of any witness being beyond the jurisdiction of the court, and the admissibility of any such evidence shall be determined as if this section and any statutory provision reproduced by this section had not passed.

PART VIDepartments and Officers

68Departments

(1)There shall be established the departments of the Supreme Court specified in the first column of Schedule 2.

(2)The business to be assigned to each department shall—

(a)be prescribed by rules of court; and

(b)subject to any directions given by the Lord Chancellor under subsection (4), be transacted under the supervision of the statutory officer specified in relation to that department in the second column of Schedule 2.

(3)The Lord Chancellor may by order made after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice establish at such place as may be specified in the order a branch office of the Probate and Matrimonial Office which—

(a)may transact such of the business of that Office as may be so specified ; and

(b)shall, subject to subsection (4), be under the supervision of a circuit registrar.

(4)Statutory officers shall discharge their functions in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chancellor.

(5)The Lord Chancellor may by order made after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice at any time modify Schedule 2 by—

(a)removing any department and any entry relating thereto from that Schedule;

(b)adding any department and any entry relating thereto to that Schedule;

(c)amending the name of any department or amending any entry relating to any department in that Schedule.

(6)An order under subsection (5) may make provision for any incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary matters for which it appears to the Lord Chancellor to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of the order to provide, and may amend or repeal any statutory provision (including any provision of this Act) so far as may be necessary or expedient in consequence of the order.

69Northern Ireland Court Service

(1)There shall be a unified and distinct civil service of the Crown, to be called the Northern Ireland Court Service and hereafter referred to as " the Court Service ", the functions of which shall be—

(a)to facilitate the conduct of the business of the following courts, namely—

(i)the Supreme Court;

(ii)county courts;

(iii)magistrates' courts ; and

(iv)coroners' courts;

(b)to give effect to judgments to which the [1969 c. 30 (N.I.).] Judgments (Enforcement) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 applies; and

(c)to discharge such other functions in relation to the courts mentioned in paragraph (a) or the enforcement of the judgments mentioned in paragraph (b) as are conferred on, or transferred to, it or any of its officers by or under this Act or any other statutory provision.

(2)The officers and other staff of the Court Service shall be appointed by the Lord Chancellor, with the concurrence of the Minister for the Civil Service as to numbers and terms and conditions of service, and shall discharge their functions in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chancellor.

(3)The principal civil service pension scheme within the meaning of section 2 of the [1972 c. 11.] Superannuation Act 1972 shall, with the necessary adaptations, apply to such officers and staff.

(4)The functions exercisable by the Court Service under subsection (1) shall include the functions heretofore exercisable by—

(a)the officers and other persons employed in the Supreme Court;

(b)the persons employed in the county court service by virtue of section 108 of the [1959 c. 25 (N.I.).] County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 or any other officer of a county court;

(c)clerks of petty sessions and persons employed in the offices of clerks of petty sessions ;

(d)the Enforcement of Judgments Office ; and

(e)the officers of coroners' courts,

other than those functions which by or under this Act become the functions of statutory officers.

(5)The offices of clerk of the Crown and peace and county court registrar are hereby abolished.

(6)The Lord Chancellor may by order make provision—

(a)for the payment by him of compensation to or in respect of persons who suffer loss of employment or loss or diminution of emoluments (including superannuation rights) which is attributable to the provisions of this section;

(b)for the transfer to a statutory officer of all or any of the functions of an office abolished by subsection (5);

(c)for such other incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary matters (including the amendment or repeal of any provision of this Act or of any other statutory provision) as appear to the Lord Chancellor to be necessary or proper in connection with the establishment of the Court Service.

70Appointment and qualification of statutory officers

(1)Appointments to the offices listed in column 1 of Schedule 3 shall be made by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice and with the concurrence of the Minister for the Civil Service as to numbers and terms and conditions of service and persons holding such offices are in this Act referred to as " statutory officers ".

(2)Subject to subsection (3), a person shall not be qualified for appointment to any of the offices listed in column 1 of Schedule 3 unless—

(a)he is a person of the description specified in column 2 of that Schedule in respect of that office and is in practice as such ; and

(b)he has, subject to section 107, the number of years' standing as a barrister or solicitor specified in column 3 of that Schedule,

or he is the holder of any other office so listed.

(3)In exceptional circumstances, where it appears to the Lord Chancellor that a suitable appointment cannot be made in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2) and Schedule 3, he may, notwithstanding those provisions, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, appoint any barrister, solicitor or other person whom he considers to be suitable for appointment having regard to his knowledge and experience.

(4)Without prejudice to section 68, the functions of the holder of each office listed in column 1 of Schedule 3 shall include the functions specified in relation to that office in column 4 of that Schedule (being functions heretofore exercised by the holder of the office or offices so specified) and accordingly—

(a)for a reference in any statutory provision relating to those functions to any office listed in column 4 of Schedule 3 or to the holder of any such office there shall be substituted a reference to the appropriate corresponding office listed in column 1 of that Schedule or to the holder of that office, as the case may be; and

(b)the offices specified in column 4 of Schedule 3 are hereby abolished.

(5)The Lord Chancellor may by order made after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice at any time modify Schedule 3 by:—

(a)removing any office and any entry relating thereto from that Schedule;

(b)adding any office and any entry relating thereto to that Schedule;

(c)amending the title of any office or amending any entry relating to any office in that Schedule.

(6)An order under subsection (5) may make provision for any incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary matters for which it appears to the Lord Chancellor to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of the order to provide and may amend or repeal any statutory provision (including any provision of this Act) so far as may be necessary or expedient in consequence of the order.

71Tenure of office of statutory officers

(1)Subject to the following provisions of this section, a statutory officer shall hold office during good behaviour.

(2)The Lord Chancellor may remove any statutory officer from his office on account of misbehaviour or inability to perform the duties of that office.

(3)Subject to subsection (4), a statutory officer shall retire at the end of the completed year of service in the course of which he attains the age of 72 years.

(4)Before appointing a person as a statutory officer the Lord Chancellor may, having regard to the age of the person to be appointed and such other circumstances as the Lord Chancellor considers relevant, direct that subsection (3) shall, in its application to that person, have effect with the substitution for the age of 72 years of such lower age as may be specified in the direction.

72Superannuation of statutory officers

(1)A statutory officer shall be deemed for the purposes of section 1 of the [1972 c. 11.] Superannuation Act 1972 to be employed in the civil service of the state and, subject to the following provisions of this section, the principal civil service pension scheme within the meaning of section 2 of that Act shall apply to him accordingly.

(2)In its application to a statutory officer in respect of his service as such the principal civil service pension scheme shall have effect subject to the modifications set out in Schedule 4.

(3)Subsection (2) shall not apply to a statutory officer appointed by virtue of section 70(3) unless the Lord Chancellor, with the concurrence of the Minister for the Civil Service, so directs.

73Restrictions on practice

A statutory officer shall not either directly or indirectly practise as a barrister or solicitor or as an agent for a solicitor.

74Deputies and temporary appointments

(1)If it appears to the Lord Chancellor that it is expedient to do so in order to facilitate the disposal of business he may, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, appoint a suitably qualified person—

(a)to act as a deputy for any statutory officer, or

(b)to act as a temporary additional statutory officer,

during such period or on such occasions as the Lord Chancellor, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, thinks fit.

(2)A person acting in an office by virtue of an appointment under subsection (1) shall have all the powers of a person permanently appointed to that office.

(3)Where anything is for the time being authorised or required by this Act or any other statutory provision to be done to or by a particular statutory officer and—

(a)that statutory officer is not available because of absence or other reason and no person may, by virtue of subsections (1) and (2), exercise his powers; or

(b)his office is vacant,

then it may, unless the Lord Chancellor otherwise directs, be done during such unavailability or vacancy to or by any other statutory officer.

(4)Where for any purpose it is necessary for a judge of the High Court or the Court of Appeal to sit outside Belfast, he may, with the approval of the Lord Chief Justice, appoint a judge's registrar.

(5)The Lord Chancellor may pay to any person appointed under this section such remuneration and allowances as he may, with the consent of the Minister for the Civil Service, determine.

75Official Solicitor

(1)The Lord Chancellor, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, may appoint a solicitor of the Supreme Court to act as Official Solicitor to the Supreme Court on a part-time basis and may, in the event of the Official Solicitor being unable for any reason to act in a particular case appoint as deputy Official Solicitor any other solicitor of the Supreme Court.

(2)The Official Solicitor shall have such powers and perform such duties in relation to the administration of justice and otherwise as may be prescribed including the discharge of such duties and functions as have heretofore been discharged by the General Solicitor for Northern Ireland.

(3)The court may, in accordance with rules of court, order the remuneration of the Official Solicitor or a deputy in respect of any business done by him to be paid out of any fund the subject of the proceedings or by any party to the proceedings or by the Lord Chancellor and such remuneration shall be ascertained on taxation or measured.

(4)Where under or by virtue of this section any powers or duties have been or are hereafter conferred on the Official Solicitor then, unless and until the court or a judge otherwise directs in any particular case, those powers may be exercised and those duties shall be performed by the holder of the office for the time being, and no further order or appointment shall be necessary by reason only that the person on whom the powers and duties were conferred or imposed has died or ceased to hold office.

76Property held by officers

Any property whatsoever held in his official capacity by any of the following, that is to say—

(a)a statutory officer;

(b)the Accountant General of the Supreme Court;

(c)the Official Solicitor ;

(d)any member of the Northern Ireland Court Service;

(e)any person appointed by the High Court to hold the property for the purposes of or in connection with any proceedings,

shall, on his dying, becoming bankrupt, ceasing to hold office or ceasing to act for the purposes of or in connection with any such proceedings, vest in the person appointed to succeed him without any conveyance, assignment or transfer.

PART VIIFunds in Court

77Accountant General

(1)Such person as the Lord Chancellor may designate shall be the Accountant General of the Supreme Court.

(2)There shall be maintained in or near the Royal Courts of Justice an office for the business of the Accountant General under this Part.

78Accounts of funds in court

(1)The Accountant General shall—

(a)keep proper accounts (including such accounts as may be necessary for carrying into effect orders of the High Court and the county court and for the purposes of this Part and Part I of the [1965 c. 2.] Administration of Justice Act 1965) and proper records in relation to the accounts;

(b)prepare in respect of each accounting period a statement of accounts in such form as the Treasury may direct.

(2)The Accountant General shall, on or before 30th November in any year, send to the Comptroller and Auditor General the statement of accounts prepared by him under subsection (1) for the accounting period last ended.

(3)The Comptroller and Auditor General shall examine, certify and report on the statement of accounts sent to him under subsection (2) and shall lay copies of the statement of accounts and of his report thereon before each House of Parliament.

(4)In this section " accounting period " means the period of 12 months ending on 31st March in any year except that the first accounting period shall, if the Treasury so directs, be such period shorter or longer than 12 months (but not longer than two years) as is specified in the direction.

79Accountant General to keep bank account

(1)The Accountant General shall maintain an account at the Bank of Ireland or at such other bank or banks as the Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of the Treasury, designate and shall pay all sums received by him into that account and all sums payable by him out of it.

(2)References to the Bank of Ireland in any statutory provision relating to sums in the Supreme Court or the county court shall, when a designation is made under subsection (1), be construed, in connection with the sums to which that provision relates, as references to a bank so designated.

80Payments and transfers

(1)The payment of money into the Supreme Court or the county court shall be effected by paying into an Accountant General's account maintained under section 79.

(2)The transfer into the Supreme Court or the county court of securities (other than such as are transferable by delivery) shall be effected by transferring them to the Accountant General.

(3)The deposit in the Supreme Court or the county court of effects and the transfer into court of securities transferable by delivery shall be effected by delivering them to the Accountant General.

81Investment of funds in court

Save in a case in which it is provided by an order of the court that it shall not be placed or invested as mentioned in the following provisions of this section, and subject to any provision to the contrary made by rules made under the next following section, a sum of money in the Supreme Court or in the county court—

(a)may, if the High Court or the county court (as the case may be) so orders, be dealt with in such of the following ways as may be specified in the order, namely:—

(i)it may be placed, in accordance with rules so made, to a deposit account or a short-term investment account (that is to say, to an account of one or other of two kinds such that, in the case of an account of either kind, there will, under rules so made, but subject to any exceptions thereby prescribed, fall to accrue on moneys placed thereto interest derived from the transfer to, and investment by, the National Debt Commissioners of the moneys placed to all the accounts of those kinds);

(ii)it may be placed to a long-term investment account for transfer, under rules so made, to such one of the funds established by schemes made under section 1 of the [1965 c. 2.] Administration of Justice Act 1965 as may be so specified ;

(iii)it may be invested by the Accountant General in such of the securities designated for the purposes of this paragraph by rules made under section 55 of this Act or section 146 of the [1959 c. 25 (N.I.).] County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 as may be so specified;

(iv)it may be invested by the Accountant General in accordance with directions given by an advisory committee appointed by the Lord Chancellor in accordance with rules made under the next following section;

(b)shall, if no order is made with respect to it under the foregoing paragraph, be dealt with as follows—

(i)except in a case in which it was paid in under section 63 of the [1958 c. 23 (N.I.).] Trustee Act (Northern Ireland) 1958, it shall be placed, in accordance with rules made under the next following section, to a deposit account;

(ii)in the said excepted case, it shall be invested by the Accountant General in such manner as may be prescribed by rules so made.

82Rules as to funds in court

(1)The Lord Chancellor, with the concurrence of the Treasury, may make rules regulating, subject to the provisions of section 80, the deposit, payment, delivery and transfer in, into and out of the Supreme Court and the county court of money, securities and effects which belong to suitors or are otherwise capable of being deposited in, or paid or transferred into, the Supreme Court or the county court or are under the custody of the Supreme Court or the county court, and regulating the evidence of such deposit, payment, delivery or transfer and, subject to the provisions of section 81, the manner in which money, securities and effects in court are to be dealt with, and in particular—

(a)providing (subject to any exceptions prescribed by the rules) for the accruer of interest on moneys placed to deposit accounts and short-term investment accounts and prescribing the rate at which interest on moneys placed to deposit accounts and the rate at which interest on moneys placed to short-term investment accounts is to accrue;

(b)requiring the Accountant General—

(i)to transfer to the National Debt Commissioners all money paid into the Supreme Court or the county court which is not required by him for meeting current demands, except money placed to a long-term investment account or ordered to be invested in securities;

(ii)to transfer money placed to a long-term investment account to that one of the funds established by schemes made under section 1 of the [1965 c. 2.] Administration of Justice Act 1965 specified in the order pursuant to which it was so placed ;

(c)prescribing for the purposes of section 81(b)(ii) the manner of investment of money by the Accountant General and regulating the investment, pursuant to an order under that section, of money in securities;

(d)regulating the crediting of interest accruing on moneys placed to deposit accounts and on moneys placed to short-term investment accounts and the crediting of dividends accruing on shares in funds established by schemes made under section 1 of the Administration of Justice Act 1965 which have been allotted in consideration of the transfer of money in compliance with such provision of the rules as has effect by virtue of paragraph (b)(ii) and of interest or dividends accruing on securities in which money has been invested by the Accountant General pursuant to an order of the High Court or county court or to section 81(b)(ii) and on other securities in court;

(e)providing—

(i)that, in such cases as may be prescribed by the rules, no sum of money (whatever its amount) shall be placed to a deposit account or a short- or long-term investment account or be invested in securities ;

(ii)that, in no case, shall a sum of money of an amount less than such as may be so prescribed be placed to, or remain in, a deposit account, be placed to a short- or long-term investment account or be invested in securities;

(f)prescribing the time at which money which falls to be placed to a deposit account or short-term investment account is to be so placed and the times at which interest on money so placed is to begin and cease to accrue and the mode of computing any such interest;

(g)providing that, in such circumstances as may be prescribed by the rules, interest and dividends such as are mentioned in paragraph (d) shall be placed to deposit accounts or short- or long-term investment accounts;

(h)providing for dealing with accounts or effects which, subject to such, if any, exceptions as may be prescribed by the rules, have not been dealt with for such period (not being less than fifteen years) as may be so prescribed ;

(i)prescribing the manner in which money is to be furnished to the Accountant General by the National Debt Commissioners and the Public Trustee respectively for the purpose of enabling him to comply with orders of the High Court and county court as to the payment of money out of court;

(j)providing for the discharge of the functions of the Accountant General under the rules by deputy ;

(k)providing for the constitution and procedure of the advisory committee referred to in section 81(a)(iv) and for the remuneration of its members ;

(l)providing for such matters as are incidental to, or consequential on, the foregoing provisions of this subsection or are necessary for giving effect to those provisions.

(2)Rules under subsection (1) may make different provision in relation to the Supreme Court and the county court.

83Application of investment provisions

(1)Sections 1, 2, 12, 13 and 15 of the [1965 c. 2.] Administration of Justice Act 1965 (which make provision for the investment of funds in court in common investment schemes and by the National Debt Commissioners) shall have effect in Northern Ireland subject to the modifications and amendments set out in the following provisions of this section.

(2)In sections 1, 12, 13 and 15 of that Act—

(a)references to the Supreme Court and county courts shall be construed as references to the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland and county courts in Northern Ireland, respectively;

(b)references to rules made with respect to funds in the Supreme Court and rules made under section 7 of that Act shall be construed as references to rules made under section 82 with respect to funds in the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland or statutory deposits;

(c)references to rules made under section 168 of the [1959 c. 22.] County Courts Act 1959 with respect to funds in county courts shall be construed as references to rules made under section 82 with respect to funds in county courts in Northern Ireland ;

(d)" statutory deposits " shall have the meaning assigned to it by section 84(3) of this Act;

(e)references to the Accountant General (except in section 15) shall be construed as references to the Accountant General of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland.

(3)At the end of section 2 of that Act there shall be inserted:—

(3)The [1906 c. 55.] Public Trustee Act 1906, as modified by subsections (1) and (2), shall, for the purposes of the exercise by the Public Trustee of his functions under section 1 above be deemed to extend to Northern Ireland.

(4)In section 15—

(a)in subsection (1) the reference to the Accountant General shall be omitted;

(b)subsection (3) shall be omitted.

84Statutory deposits

(1)Section 80(1) shall apply to a statutory deposit as it applies to the payment of money into the Supreme Court; and section 80(2) and (3) shall apply to the deposit with the Accountant General of securities in lieu of money in exercise of a right to make such a deposit conferred by section 29 of the Tramways (Ireland) Act 1860 or by rules made by virtue of subsection (2).

(2)Sections 81 and 82 shall apply to a statutory deposit and to securities which are in the hands of the Accountant General in consequence of a person's having availed himself of such a right as is mentioned in subsection (1) and rules made under section 82 may include separate provisions with respect to such deposits and securities and, in particular, may authorise the deposit, under the statutory provisions mentioned in subsection (3), of securities in lieu of money.

(3)In this section and sections 83 and 85 " statutory deposit" means money deposited with the Accountant General under or by virtue of—

(a)section 29 of the [1860 c. 152.] Tramways (Ireland) Act 1860;

(b)section 7 of the [1924 c. 21 (N.I.).] Industrial Assurance Act (Northern Ireland) 1924;

(c)section 4 of the [1940 c. 9 (N.I.).] Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act (Northern Ireland) 1940 ; or

(d)section, 75(2)(b) or 78(1)(a) of the [1970 c. 2 (N.I.).] Road Traffic Act (Northern Ireland) 1970;

or any statutory provision which was re-enacted by any of those provisions.

85Provision for default to be made good

Where any member of the Northern Ireland Court Service has been guilty of any default with respect to any money, securities or effects in the Supreme Court or the county court or any statutory deposit or with respect to any such securities as are mentioned in section 84(2), such sum as is necessary for making good the default shall be paid by the Lord Chancellor.

PART VIIIRules of Law in Judicial Matters Generally

86Concurrent administration of law and equity to continue

(1)Every court exercising jurisdiction in Northern Ireland in a civil cause or matter shall continue to administer law and equity upon the basis that, wherever there is any conflict or variance between the rules of equity and the rules of the common law with reference to the same matter, the rules of equity shall prevail.

(2)Every such court shall give the same effect as heretofore :—

(a)to all equitable estates, titles, rights, remedies, reliefs, counterclaims and defences and to all equitable duties and liabilities; and

(b)subject thereto, to all legal claims and demands and all estates, titles, rights, duties, obligations and liabilities existing by common law or by any custom or created by any statute,

and shall ensure that, as far as possible and subject to any statutory provision (including subsection (3)) to the contrary, all matters in dispute in a cause or matter before it may be completely and finally determined without further proceedings in respect thereof.

(3)Without prejudice to any other powers exercisable by it, a court, acting on equitable grounds, may stay any proceedings or the execution of any of its process subject to such conditions as it thinks fit.

(4)Nothing in this Act shall authorise a cause or proceeding pending in the High Court or the Court of Appeal to be stayed by prohibition or injunction.

87Assignment of debts and choses in action

(1)Subject to subsections (2) and (3), any absolute assignment by writing under the hand of the assignor, not purporting to be by way of charge only, of any debt or other legal chose in action, of which express notice in writing is given to the debtor, trustee or other person from whom the assignor would have been entitled to receive or claim the debt or chose in action, shall be effectual in law (subject to equities having priority over the right of the assignee) to pass and transfer, as from the date of the notice,—

(a)the legal right to, and all legal and other remedies respecting, the debt or chose in action together with,

(b)the power to give, without the concurrence of the assignor, a good discharge for the debt or chose in action.

(2)If the debtor, trustee or other person liable in respect of the debt or chose in action has had notice that the assignment is disputed by the assignor or anyone claiming under him, or of any other opposing or conflicting claims to the debt or chose in action, he shall be entitled, if he thinks fit, to call upon the several persons concerned to pursue their claims by interpleading, or he may, if he thinks fit, make an appropriate payment into court under the relevant provisions of the [1958 c. 23 (N.I.).] Trustee Acts (Northern Ireland) 1958 and [1962 c. 10 (N.I.).] 1962.

(3)This section does not affect the provisions of the [1867 c. 144.] Policies of Assurance Act 1867.

88Certain stipulations not to be of the essence of contracts

Stipulations in a contract as to time or otherwise which according to rules of equity are not to be deemed to be or to have become of the essence of the contract are also construed and have effect at law in accordance with the same rules.

89Merger

There is no merger by operation of law only of any estate the beneficial interest in which would not be deemed to be merged or extinguished in equity.

90Equitable waste

An estate for life without impeachment of waste shall not confer or be deemed to have conferred upon the tenant for life any right to commit waste of the description known as equitable waste, unless an intention to confer that right expressly appears by the instrument creating the estate.

91Orders for sale, mandatory or other injunctions and receivers

(1)The High Court and, in matters within its jurisdiction, the county court may at any stage of any proceedings—

(a)order a sale of any property ;

(b)grant a mandatory or other injunction; or

(c)appoint a receiver,

in any case where it appears to the court to be just or convenient to do so for the purposes of any proceedings before it and, if the case is one of urgency, the court may grant such an injunction before the commencement of the proceedings.

(2)Any order, injunction or appointment under subsection (1) may be made either unconditionally or on such terms and conditions as the court thinks just (including, where an injunction is granted before the commencement of the proceedings, a condition requiring proceedings to be commenced).

(3)If, whether before or at or after the hearing of any cause or matter, an application is made for an injunction to prevent any threatened or apprehended waste or trespass, the injunction may be granted, if the court thinks fit, whether the person against whom the injunction is sought is or is not in possession under any claim or title or otherwise, or (if out of possession) does or does not claim a right to do the act sought to be restrained under colour of any title, and whether the estates claimed by both or by either of the parties are legal or equitable.

92Damages in lieu of or in addition to injunction or specific performance

Where a court has jurisdiction to entertain an application for an injunction or specific performance it may award damages in addition to or in substitution for such injunction or specific performance.

93Suits for possession of land by mortgagors

(1)Unless an express declaration contained in the mortgage provides otherwise a mortgagor entitled for the time being to the possession or receipt of the rents and profits of any land as to which no notice of intention to take possession or to enter into the receipt of such rents and profits has been given by the mortgagee may—

(a)sign and cause to be served notices to quit;

(b)determine tenancies or accept surrenders thereof ;

(c)sue for such possession or for the recovery of such rents or profits or to prevent or recover damages in respect of any trespass or other wrong relative thereto in his own name only, unless the cause of action arises upon a lease or other contract made by him jointly with any other person.

(2)An action, suit or proceeding brought by virtue of subsection (1) shall not be defeated by proof that the legal estate in the land the possession of which is sought to be recovered, or in respect of which the rents or profits are sought to be recovered, or in respect of which the trespass or other wrong has been committed, is vested in a mortgagee.

94Relief from ejectment

(1)Where the defendant, or any other person having a specific interest in the lease or tenancy agreement, after a judgment or decree of any court for possession in favour of the landlord in any action of ejectment for non-payment of rent (including an action for forfeiture for non-payment of rent)—

(a)pays the rent and arrears thereof, with full costs, or lodges the same in court; and

(b)makes an application at the earliest opportunity at which he can reasonably do so after the enforcement of the order for delivery of possession of land (of which application the landlord shall receive due notice) to be restored to possession ;

the court may on such application award or refuse an order for restoration of possession of the land and give such equitable relief as it thinks fit.

(2)Unless and until application is made under subsection (1) the landlord shall hold the demised premises freed and discharged from the lease or tenancy agreement, subject, however, to any appeal from the original decree or judgment for possession in his favour.

(3)This section applies to a grant at a fee farm rent or securing a rent by condition and, for the purposes of such application, references to the lease, to the landlord and to the demised premises shall be construed, respectively, as references to the grant, to the grantor and to the premises granted.

(4)For the purposes of this section—

(a)references to a lease or grant include references to a sub-lease or sub-grant respectively, and

(b)references to the landlord or grantor include references to any person to whom the estate or interest of the landlord or grantor has passed.

(5)This section shall not operate to restrict any other power of the court to grant equitable relief.

PART IXInferior Courts

County courts

95County courts and county court divisions

For sections 1 and 2 of the [1959 c. 25 (N.I.).] County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 there shall be substituted the following sections—

1County courts to be held for divisions.

(1)For the purposes of this Act, Northern Ireland shall be divided into such divisions as the Lord Chancellor may by order specify.

(2)A court shall be held for each such division at such place or places as may be specified in directions given under section 2.

(3)A court held under subsection (2) shall—

(a)subject to subsection (4), be called a county court and be a court of record ;

(b)have, throughout the whole of the division for which it is held, the jurisdiction and powers conferred on a county court by this Act or any other statutory provision.

(4)The county court so held for the division which is or includes—

(a)the area of the city of Belfast shall be called the Belfast Recorder's Court;

(b)the area of the city of Londonderry shall be called the Londonderry Recorder's Court.

2Provision as to holding of courts.

The Lord Chancellor may give directions as to—

(a)the places at which county courts are to be held;

(b)the number of ordinary sittings of county courts which are to be held each year;

(c)the ordinary hours of sitting of county courts;

(d)the nature of the business to be transacted by any county court at any place;

(e)the cancellation of any sitting of a county court for which provision has been made under this Act where there is no, or insufficient, business to be transacted at that sitting; and

(f)such other incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary matters as appeal to the Lord Chancellor to be necessary or proper..

96Times of sitting of county courts

For section 4 of the [1959 c. 25 (N.I.).] County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 there shall be substituted the following section—

4Times of sitting.

(1)Subject to any provision made by virtue of section 2, in each year the Lord Chancellor shall—

(a)on or before 1st May, appoint the days for the holding of the ordinary sittings of the county court for each division for the period of 12 months commencing on 1st September next following; and

(b)on or before 1st July cause notice of the days so appointed to be published.

(2)Before appointing the days for the holding of the ordinary sittings of the county court for a division under this section, the Lord Chancellor shall consult the Lord Chief Justice and the county court judge assigned to that division under section 102..

97Civil jurisdiction exercisable by circuit registrars

(1)After section 61 of the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 there shall be inserted the following section—

61ACivil jurisdiction exercisable by circuit registrars.

(1)Subject to subsection (3), any action in which the amount claimed, or the value of specific chattels claimed, does not exceed £300 shall, save as otherwise provided by county court rules, be heard and determined by a circuit registrar in accordance with those rules.

(2)Any order, decision or determination made by a circuit registrar by virtue of subsection (1) shall for all purposes (including the right of appeal) have the like effect as a decree pronounced by a judge and shall be embodied in a decree accordingly.

(3)Where in any action to which subsection (1) applies the amount claimed, or the value of specific chattels claimed, does not exceed £200 the circuit registrar shall, save as otherwise provided by county court rules, deal with the claim by way of arbitration in accordance with those rules.

(4)Save as otherwise provided by county court rules, no costs shall be awarded in connection with an action which, in accordance with subsection (3), is dealt with by way of arbitration.

(5)In its application to an arbitration under subsection (3) the [1937 c. 8 (N.I.).] Arbitration Act (Northern Ireland) 1937 shall have effect with such modifications as may be prescribed by county court rules.

(6)References in subsections (1) and (3) to an amount claimed include references to a balance claimed in the circumstances mentioned in section 10(1)(a) (b) and (c).

(7)The power conferred by Article 8(2)(a) of the [S.I. 1975/816 (N.I. 7).] Administration of Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 on the Lord Chancellor, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, by order to increase the sum specified in any of the statutory provisions set out in column 1 of Schedule 1 to that Order shall include power so to increase the sums specified in subsections (1) and (3)..

(2)Her Majesty may by Order in Council——

(a)direct that sections 71(1), (2) and (3), 76(1)(a) and 82(3) of the [1964 c. 3 (N.I.).] Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 (which impose financial limits on the jurisdiction of courts of summary jurisdiction in debt and ejectment proceedings) shall have effect with the substitution for the sums for the time being specified in those provisions of such higher sums as may be specified in the Order;

(b)abolish any civil jurisdiction exercisable by courts of summary jurisdiction;

(c)confer on circuit registrars any civil jurisdiction additional to that for the time being exercisable by them under or by virtue of any statutory provision.

(3)An Order in Council under subsection (2) may make such incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provisions (including the amendment or repeal of any statutory provision) as appear to Her Majesty to be necessary or proper for giving full effect to the provisions of the Order.

(4)No recommendation shall be made to Her Majesty in Council to make an Order under subsection (2) unless a draft of the Order has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

98Appointment and assignment of county court judges

For section 102 of the [1959 c. 25 (N.I.).] County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 there shall be substituted the following section—

102Appointment and assignment of judges.

(1)Her Majesty may appoint as judges such qualified persons as may be recommended to Her by the Lord Chancellor.

(2)A judge shall sit in the county court in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chancellor.

(3)A judge may, in accordance with such directions, sit as a judge for any division.

(4)Subject to subsections (2) and (3), the Lord Chancellor shall assign one judge to each division and may from time to time vary any such assignment.

(5)The judge assigned to the division which is or includes—

(a)the area of the city of Belfast shall be styled the Recorder of Belfast;

(b)the area of the city of Londonderry shall be styled the Recorder of Londonderry..

99Qualifications of county court judges and deputy judges

(1)In section 103(1) of the [1959 c. 25 (N.I.).] County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 for the words from " unless " to the end of the subsection there shall be substituted the words " unless—

(a)he has practised for not less than ten years at the Bar of Northern Ireland ; or

(b)he has been a deputy judge for not less than three years.".

(2)For section 107 of the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 there shall be substituted the following section—

107Deputy judges.

(1)The Lord Chancellor may appoint as deputy judge—

(a)a person who has previously held the office of judge;

(b)a person who has practised for not less than ten years at the Bar of Northern Ireland;

(c)a resident magistrate ;

(d)a solicitor who has practised for not less than ten years as a solicitor in Northern Ireland.

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

(3)Subject to subsection (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.

(4)Except where an appointment is made under subsection (1)(a), 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 end of the completed year of service in which he attains the age of seventy-two years.

(5)A deputy judge shall, while he is so acting, have the like authority, jurisdiction, powers and privileges as a judge in all respects.

(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 subsection (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 the Minister for the Civil Service, determine..

Magistrate's Courts

100Appointment and assignment of resident magistrates

For section 9 of the [1964 c. 21 (N.I.).] Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 there shall be substituted the following section—

9Appointment and assignment of resident magistrates.

(1)Her Majesty may, on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor, appoint fit and proper persons to be resident magistrates, being persons who at the dates of their appointments have practised for not less than seven years either as a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland or as a solicitor of the Supreme Court.

(2)Without prejudice to section 7, a resident magistrate on his appointment shall forthwith take the oath of allegiance and the judicial oath as required by the [1868 c. 72.] Promissory Oaths Act 1868.

(3)A resident magistrate shall sit in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chancellor.

(4)A resident magistrate may, in accordance with such directions, sit in any petty sessions district.

(5)Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the Lord Chancellor may assign a resident magistrate to one or more petty sessions districts and may from time to time vary any such assignment..

101Petty sessions and petty sessions districts

For subsections (2) and (3) of section 21 of the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 there shall be substituted the following subsections—

(2)The Lord Chancellor may by order specify the petty sessions districts into which Northern Ireland shall be divided.

(3)The Lord Chancellor may give directions as to—

(a)the places at which petty sessions are to be held;

(b)the days on which petty sessions are to be held regularly for a petty sessions district;

(c)the ordinary hours of sitting of courts of summary jurisdiction;

(d)the nature of the business to be transacted by any court of summary jurisdiction ;

(e)notwithstanding anything in section 144, the place of hearing of appeals to the county court from any petty sessions;

(f)such other incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary matters as appear to the Lord Chancellor to be necessary or proper..

Supplementary

102Supplementary

(1)In this Part—

(a)sections 95 to 99 shall be construed as one with the [1959 c. 25 (N.I.).] County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959;

(b)sections 100 and 101 shall be construed as one with the [1964 c. 21 (N.I.).] Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964.

(2)Where the Lord Chancellor at any time directs that any of the Acts listed in subsection (3) is to be reprinted, section 30 of the [1954 c. 33 (N.I.).] Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply as if—

(a)that direction were contained in an enactment; and

(b)in subsection (2) of that section for the words " the Clerk of the Parliaments " there were substituted the words " the Clerk to the Assembly ".

(3)The Acts referred to in subsection (2) are—

(a)the County Courts Acts (Northern Ireland) 1959 and 1964;

(b)the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964; and

(c)the [1969 c. 30 (N.I.).] Judgments (Enforcement) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.

PART XMiscellaneous Matters

103Appointment of justices of the peace

(1)Subject to the following provisions of this section there shall in Northern Ireland be a commission of the peace for each county court division and not, as heretofore, for each county and county borough.

(2)The commission of the peace for a county court division shall be a commission under the Great Seal of Northern Ireland addressed generally, and not by name, to all such persons as may from time to time hold office as justices of the peace for the county court division.

(3)Justices of the peace for a county court division shall be appointed on behalf and in the name of Her Majesty by instrument under the hand of the Lord Chancellor, and a justice so appointed may be removed from office in like manner.

(4)A justice of the peace shall, within the county court division for which he is appointed, have all the jurisdiction and duties which were heretofore vested in or imposed on a justice of the peace acting for any area which included any part of that county court division.

(5)Any act, matter or thing which by any statutory provision was heretofore required or authorised to be done before, or in the presence of, or to be served on, a justice of the peace acting for a county or county borough shall be required or authorised (as the case may be) to be done before, or in the presence of, or to be served on, a justice of the peace acting for any county court division in which that county or county borough or any part thereof is included.

(6)In each county court division such one of the justices of the peace as may be designated by the Lord Chancellor shall be keeper of the rolls and shall exercise in relation to that county court division the functions heretofore exercised in relation to a county by the keeper of the rolls for that county.

(7)There shall be transmitted to the keeper of the rolls for each county court division, and be enrolled in the records of the justices for that division, a copy of any instrument appointing or removing a justice of the peace in that division in accordance with this section; and the keeper of the rolls shall be notified in such manner as the Lord Chancellor may direct of any resignation or death of a justice so appointed, and shall cause to be kept and from time to time rectified a record of those for the time being holding office by virtue of any such appointment.

(8)A record of all persons for the time being holding office as justice of the peace by virtue of appointments made in accordance with this section, together with the instruments of appointment or removal shall be kept in the office of the Clerk of the Crown for Northern Ireland.

(9)The Lord Chancellor may by order make such incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provisions (including the amendment or repeal of any statutory provision) as appear to the Lord Chancellor to be necessary or proper for giving full effect to the provisions of this section.

(10)In this and the next following section " county court division" means a division specified under section 1(1) of the [1959 c. 25 (N.I.).] County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959.

104Under-sheriffs

(1)The Lord Chancellor may by order authorise any person appointed as an under-sheriff in Northern Ireland to discharge the duties of that office for or in relation to any county court division instead of for or in relation to a county or county borough.

(2)The Lord Chancellor may by order abolish the office of under-sheriff and transfer all or any of the functions of that office to such other person or body as may be specified in the order.

(3)An order under this section may—

(a)with the concurrence of the Minister for the Civil Service, make provision for the payment by the Lord Chancellor of compensation to or in respect of persons who suffer loss of employment or loss or diminution of emoluments (including superannuation rights) which is attributable to the operation of any such order; or

(b)make such other incidental, consequential, transitional or supplementary provisions (including the amendment or repeal of any statutory provision) as appear to the Lord Chancellor to be necessary for giving full effect to the provisions of any such order.

105Solicitors to be officers of court

(1)Any person duly admitted as a solicitor in Northern Ireland or entitled to practise therein as a solicitor shall be an officer of the Supreme Court, but nothing in this subsection shall affect the operation of any statutory provision (including a provision contained in this Act) which imposes on officers of a court restrictions as to practice as solicitors.

(2)References in any statutory provision in force in Northern Ireland to attorneys or proctors shall be construed as references to solicitors of the Supreme Court.

106Rights of audience in the High Court and Court of Appeal

(1)A solicitor of the Supreme Court shall have a right of audience in any proceedings in the High Court or the Court of Appeal respecting—

(a)any bankruptcy matter ;

(b)any matter relating to the winding-up of a company ;

(c)any matter to be heard in chambers or which is adjourned from chambers into court; or

(d)any matter in which counsel already instructed is for any reason unable to appear,

without being required to instruct counsel, or other counsel as the case may be, and may act and plead therein as counsel might have acted or pleaded.

(2)Where in any proceedings in the High Court or the Court of Appeal (other than proceedings to which subsection (1) relates) a solicitor has had no reasonable opportunity, having regard to all the circumstances, of adequately instructing counsel, the court, if of opinion that it is desirable in the interests of justice to do so, may grant the solicitor a right of audience as ample as that which counsel would have enjoyed.

(3)A solicitor of the Supreme Court shall have a right of audience in any enquiries or proceedings before a statutory officer sitting in the exercise of his jurisdiction whether original or delegated; and any such officer may in his discretion permit such right of audience to be enjoyed by an experienced solicitor's clerk acting on behalf of his principal.

(4)Nothing in this section shall take away or affect the inherent powers of any court or judge to confer a right of audience.

107Qualification for holding office of solicitors who have been barristers and vice versa

(1)For the purpose of any statutory provision or custom whereby the qualification of a solicitor for holding any office in Northern Ireland depends upon—

(a)his having been admitted for a specified period; or

(b)his having been admitted and in practice for a specified period,

that period, in the case of a solicitor who before admission was a barrister, shall be deemed to include—

(i)where paragraph (a) applies, any period during which he was a barrister; and

(ii)where paragraph (b) applies, any period after his call to the bar during which he was in practice as a barrister.

(2)For the purpose of any statutory provision or custom whereby the qualification of a barrister for holding any office in Northern Ireland depends upon—

(a)his having been called to the bar for a specified period ; or

(b)his having been called to the bar and in practice for a specified period,

that period, in the case of a barrister who before call was a solicitor, shall be deemed to include—

(i)where paragraph (a) applies, any period during which he was a solicitor; and

(ii)where paragraph (b) applies, any period after his admission as a solicitor during which he was in practice as such.

(3)This section applies—

(a)to this Act and to any other statutory provision whether passed or made before or after this Act; and

(b)in relation to persons admitted as solicitors or called to the bar before, as well as after, the passing of this Act.

108Election courts

(1)On or before 1st October in each year the judges of the High Court and the Court of Appeal shall select two of their number to be judges for the trial of parliamentary election petitions for the purposes of section 110 of the [1949 c. 68.] Representation of the People Act 1949 and section 72(2) of the [1962 c. 14 (N.I.).] Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962.

(2)In the event of the death, retirement or unavailability through illness or other cause of any judge selected pursuant to this section, the judges of the High Court and the Court of Appeal shall as soon as may be convenient select one of their number to replace or act for him.

109Enrolment etc. of instruments

(1)The Lord Chief Justice may make regulations with respect to the enrolment, engrossment, filing or registration in the Supreme Court of documents to which subsection (2) refers and specifying the form in which certificates of enrolment, engrossment, fifing or registration are to be granted or the manner in which the respective rolls, registers or files of documents may be inspected.

(2)Any document which is required or authorised by any statutory provision or rule of law or practice to be enrolled or engrossed or filed or registered in any manner in the Supreme Court (not being a document required to be filed or registered pursuant to rules of court) shall be deemed to have been duly enrolled, engrossed, filed or registered as the case may be, in compliance therewith if it is written on such material and has been filed or registered in such manner as may be authorised by regulations under this section and for this purpose " written " shall be taken as including typewritten, printed, engraved, lithographed, photographed or represented or reproduced by any mode of representing or reproducing words in a visible form.

(3)Except as provided by subsection (2), nothing in regulations made under this section shall prejudice or affect the operation of any statutory provision requiring or authorising the enrolment, engrossment, filing or registration of deeds in the Supreme Court.

110Court bonds

(1)Rules of court may provide that bonds to be given for the purposes of any proceedings in the High Court or the Court of Appeal—

(a)shall be given in such form and to such officer of the court by his official title; and

(b)may be given by such surety companies,

as may be prescribed.

(2)The bond of a surety company prescribed under subsection (1) shall be sufficient without any other surety or any affidavit of justification but in other cases rules of court may prescribe or the court ordering the bond may require that one or more than one surety be joined in the bond.

(3)Where a bond has been given for the purpose of proceedings in any court and it appears to the court, upon application made to it, that a condition of the bond has been broken, the court may order either—

(a)that the bond be enforced ; or

(b)that the bond be assigned to a person named in the order for the purpose of being enforced by him.

(4)In the case of an order under subsection (3) (a), the officer of the court to whom the bond was given and, in the case of an order under subsection (3) (b), the person to whom the bond was ordered to be assigned shall be entitled by virtue of the order to enforce the bond in his own name as if it had been originally given to him and shall hold, as trustee for all persons entitled thereto, all money recoverable for the breach of the condition in respect of which the order was made.

(5)Any judge or officer having jurisdiction in a matter to which a bond relates may upon application made to him disallow or annul any bond upon evidence appearing to him to be sufficient to justify its disallowance or annulment.

(6)In this section " surety company " means a body corporate having a place of business in Northern Ireland and authorised by law to give bonds there by way of guarantee and indemnity.

111Lost negotiable instruments

In any cause or matter founded on a negotiable instrument a court in Northern Ireland may order that the loss of such instrument shall not be set up, so long as an indemnity is given, to the satisfaction of the court or of an officer of the court specified by the court, against the claims of any other person upon such negotiable instrument.

112Oaths and affidavits

(1)The Lord Chief Justice may, in accordance with rules of court, appoint persons to act, subject to such conditions and such limits as to territory, duration or purpose as he may specify in the appointment, as commissioners for oaths or notaries public and, subject to those conditions and limits, the respective persons so appointed may exercise all the powers and shall perform all the duties conferred by the law of Northern Ireland on commissioners for oaths or notaries public, as the case may be.

(2)A commissioner for oaths may, by virtue of his commission, in Northern Ireland or elsewhere, administer any oath or take any affidavit for the purposes of any court or matter in Northern Ireland, including any matters relating to applications for notarial faculties and matters relating to the registration of any instrument, whether under a statutory provision or otherwise, and take any bail or recognizance in or for the purpose of any civil proceeding in the High Court or the Court of Appeal.

(3)Every person who, being an officer of or performing duties in relation to any court, is for the time being so authorised by the Lord Chancellor or by a judge of the court, or by or in pursuance of any rules or orders regulating the procedure of the court, and every person directed to take an examination in any cause or matter in the High Court or the Court of Appeal, shall have authority to administer any oath or take any affidavit required for any purpose connected with his duties.

(4)Any oath or affidavit required for the purpose of any court or matter in Northern Ireland, or for the purpose of the registration of any instrument in any part of the United Kingdom, may be taken or made in any place out of Northern Ireland before any person having authority to administer an oath in that place.

(5)In the case of a person having such authority otherwise than by the law of a foreign country, judicial and official notice shall be taken of his seal or signature affixed, impressed or subscribed to or on any such oath or affidavit.

(6)Every commissioner before whom any oath or affidavit is taken or made under this Act shall state truly in the jurat or attestation at what place and on what date the oath or affidavit is taken or made.

(7)In this section " affidavit" includes statutory or other declaration, acknowledgment, examination, and attestation or protestation of honour.

113Appointment of conveyancing counsel

(1)The High Court may, for the purposes of any civil cause or matter before it, appoint to act as conveyancing counsel to the court a person who has practised for not less than ten years at the Bar of Northern Ireland.

(2)Rules of court may make provision with respect to the appointment and allowances of counsel appointed under subsection (1).

114Other law in Northern Ireland courts

(1)For the purposes of proceedings before any court in Northern Ireland whether sitting with or without a jury, any question as to the effect of evidence given with respect to the law of any country or territory outside Northern Ireland shall be a matter to be determined by the judge of the court.

(2)Without prejudice to any other statutory provision or to any rule of law or practice, in proceedings before a court in Northern Ireland judicial notice may be taken of the law of England and Wales or of the law of the Republic of Ireland.

(3)In proceedings before a court in Northern Ireland a person who is suitably qualified to do so on account of his knowledge or experience is competent to give expert evidence as to the law of any country or territory outside Northern Ireland, irrespective of whether he has acted, or is entitled to act, as a legal practitioner in that country or territory.

(4)Where any question as to the law of any country or territory outside Northern Ireland with respect to any matter has been determined (whether before or after the commencement of this section) in any such proceedings as are mentioned in subsection (6), then in any subsequent proceedings before a court in Northern Ireland not otherwise empowered to take judicial notice of that determination—

(a)any finding made or decision given on that question in the first-mentioned proceedings shall, if reported or recorded in citable form, be admissible in evidence for the purpose of proving the law of that country or territory with respect to that matter; and

(b)if that finding or decision, as so reported or recorded, is adduced for that purpose, the law of that country or territory with respect to that matter shall be taken to be in accordance with that finding or decision unless the contrary is proved, but this paragraph shall not apply in the case of a finding or decision which conflicts with another finding or decision on the same question adduced by virtue of this subsection in the same proceedings.

(5)Except with the leave of the court, a party to any proceedings shall not be permitted to adduce any such finding or decision by virtue of subsection (4) unless, before the hearing at which he seeks to adduce it, written notice that he intends to do so has been served on each of the other parties to the proceedings or on his solicitor.

(6)The proceedings referred to in subsection (4) are the following, whether civil or criminal, namely—

(a)proceedings at first instance in any of the following courts, namely the High Court or the Crown Court, or the High Court or the Crown Court in England and Wales;

(b)appeals arising out of any such proceedings as are mentioned in paragraph (a);

(c)proceedings before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on appeal (whether to Her Majesty in Council or to the Judicial Committee as such) from any decision of any court outside the United Kingdom.

(7)For the purpose of this section a finding or decision on any such question as is mentioned in subsection (4) shall be taken to be reported or recorded in citable form if, but only if, it is reported or recorded in writing in a report, transcript or other document which, if that question had been a question as to the law of Northern Ireland, could be cited as an authority in legal proceedings in Northern Ireland.

115Official seals

(1)There shall be an official seal of the Supreme Court which shall be used for such purposes as the Lord Chief Justice may direct or as may be authorised or required by any statutory provision.

(2)The seals heretofore used in the High Court and the Court of Appeal may continue to be used.

(3)The Lord Chief Justice may from time to time direct what seals shall be used in the several divisions and departments of the Supreme Court.

(4)All writs, decrees, orders, instruments, certificates and other documents and copies thereof which purport to be sealed with a seal provided under this section shall, in all parts of the United Kingdom, be judicially noticed and received in evidence without further proof of their authenticity.

116Fees

(1)The Lord Chancellor, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice and with the concurrence of the Treasury, may by order fix the fees to be taken in any court in Northern Ireland or in any office or by any officer connected with any such court or by the Enforcement of Judgments Office and may from time to time increase, reduce or abolish any such fees or fix new fees to be so taken.

(2)The Lord Chancellor, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice and with the concurrence of the Treasury, may by order fix the fees to be taken by commissioners for oaths or notaries public and may from time to time increase, reduce or abolish any such fees or fix new fees to be so taken.

(3)Any functions heretofore exercisable by any other authority or person in relation to the fixing of the fees mentioned in subsections (1) and (2) shall cease to be exercisable.

(4)An order under subsection (1) or (2) may provide for the manner in which any fees fixed thereby are to be taken, applied and accounted for but, subject to any provision so made, the fees mentioned in those subsections shall continue to be taken, applied and accounted for as heretofore.

117Transfer of certain functions relating to courts to Lord Chancellor

(1)The functions heretofore exercisable by the Secretary of State under the enactments listed in subsection (2) and under any instrument made under any such enactment are hereby transferred to the Lord Chancellor.

(2)The enactments referred to in subsection (1) are—

(a)in the [1954 c. 9 (N.I.).] Administration of Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1954, sections 11 and 14;

(b)the [1959 c. 15 (N.I.).] Coroners' Act (Northern Ireland) 1959;

(c)the [1959 c. 25 (N.I.).] County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 ;

(d)the [1964 c. 21 (N.I.).] Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 (except sections 25(1) and 46);

(e)the [1969 c. 30 (N.I.).] Judgments (Enforcement) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969; and

(f)Article 8 of the [S.I. 1975/816 (N.I. 7).] Administration of Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1975.

PART XIInterpretation and General

118Application to the Crown

(1)The provisions of this Act shall bind the Crown but, as respects civil proceedings to which the [1947 c. 44.] Crown Proceedings Act 1947 applies, shall do so only so far as (but no further than) those proceedings can be brought by or against the Crown in accordance with that Act as it applies in Northern Ireland in relation to the Crown in right of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and in right of Her Majesty's Government in Northern Ireland.

(2)References to rules of court in the said Act of 1947 as it so applies shall be construed as including references to rules made under this Act.

(3)In this section references to the Crown do not include reference to Her Majesty in Her private capacity nor to Her Majesty in right of Her Duchy of Lancaster, nor to the Duke of Cornwall and nothing in this section prejudices the operation of section 31(8) and (9).

119Making and control of subordinate legislation

(1)Any power conferred by the preceding provisions of this Act on the Lord Chancellor to make an order or rules or on the Lord Chief Justice to make regulations shall be exercisable by statutory rule for the purposes of the [1958 c. 18 (N.I.).] Statutory Rules Act (Northern Ireland) 1958.

(2)Any statutory rule made under any power conferred by this Act (except an order under section 68(3) or 116 or regulations under section 109) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament in like manner as a statutory instrument and section 5 of the [1946 c. 36.] Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply accordingly.

(3)Any statutory instrument made under any power conferred by this Act to make an Order in Council (except any instrument made under section 2(3), 3(4), 62(6) or 97(2)) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(4)Any power mentioned in subsection (1) to make an order and any power conferred by this Act to make an Order in Council includes power to vary or revoke the order or Order in Council by a subsequent order or Order in Council made under that power.

(5)Any power conferred by this Act or by any enactment listed in section 117(2) on the Lord Chancellor to give directions includes power to vary or revoke any directions so given.

120Interpretation

(1)In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings hereby assigned to them respectively, that is to say:—

  • " action " means a civil proceeding commenced by writ or in such other manner as may be prescribed by rules of court, but does not include a criminal proceeding by or in the name of the Crown ;

  • " Attorney General " means the Attorney General for Northern Ireland;

  • " cause " includes any action, suit or other original proceeding between a plaintiff and a defendant, and any criminal proceeding by or in the name of the Crown;

  • " costs " includes fees, charges, disbursements, expenses or remuneration;

  • " court of assize " has the meaning assigned to it by section 42(1) of the [1954 c. 33 (N.I.).] Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 ;

  • " Court of Criminal Appeal " means the Court of Criminal Appeal heretofore existing in Northern Ireland;

  • " county court " means a county court held for a division under the [1959 c. 25 (N.I.).] County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 ;

  • " Criminal Appeal Act " means the [1968 c. 21.] Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1968 ;

  • " defendant " includes any person served with any writ of summons or process or served with notice of, or entitled to attend, any proceedings ;

  • " division " (except when used in relation to the holding of county courts) means division of the High Court;

  • " heretofore " means immediately before the date of the commencement of the provision in which it occurs ;

  • " judgment " includes order, decision and decree;

  • " jurisdiction " includes power and authority;

  • " lower deciding authority " includes any inferior court or other tribunal and any authority exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions;

  • " magistrates' court " has the meaning assigned to it by section 1(2) of the [1964 c. 21 (N.I.).] Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964;

  • " matter " includes every proceeding in court not in a cause;

  • " party " includes every person served with notice of or attending any proceeding, although not named on the record;

  • " plaintiff " includes every person asking any relief (otherwise than by way of counter-claim as a defendant) against any other person by any form of proceeding, whether the proceeding is by action, suit, petition, motion, summons or otherwise;

  • " pleading " includes a petition or summons, the statement in writing of the claim or demand of a party and of the defence or reply of a party to a claim or demand made against him;

  • " prescribed " means prescribed by rules of court;

  • " Royal Courts of Justice " means the building at Chichester Street, Belfast, in which sittings of the High Court and the Court of Appeal have heretofore been held ;

  • " rules of court " means rules of court (including forms) made by the Rules Committee;

  • " sentence " has the meaning assigned to it by section 35 of the Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1968;

  • " statutory officer " has the meaning assigned to it by section 70(1);

  • " statutory provision " has the meaning assigned to it by section 1(f) of the [1954 c. 33 (N.I.).] Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954.

(2)Any reference in this Act to a statutory provision shall, except in so far as the context otherwise requires, be construed as a reference to that provision as amended or extended by any other statutory provision including this Act.

(3)Section 38 of the [1889 c. 63.] Interpretation Act 1889 shall have the same effect in relation to any repeal by this Act of a statutory provision other than an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom as it has in relation to the repeal by this Act of such an Act.

(4)In this Act, except where otherwise indicated,—

(a)a reference to a numbered Part, section or Schedule is a reference to the Part or section of, or the Schedule to, this Act so numbered;

(b)a reference in a section to a numbered subsection is a reference to the subsection of that section so numbered ;

(c)a reference in a section, subsection or Schedule to a numbered paragraph is a reference to the paragraph of that section, subsection or Schedule so numbered; and

(d)a reference in a paragraph of a section, subsection or Schedule to a numbered sub-paragraph is a reference to the sub-paragraph of that paragraph so numbered.

121Financial provisions

(1)There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament any sums required by a Minister of the Crown or government department for making payments under or by virtue of this Act, or for defraying the expenses of its operation.

(2)There shall be paid out of money so provided or, as the case may be, out of or into the Consolidated Fund any increase attributable to this Act in the sums so payable under any other statutory provision.

122Minor and consequential amendments, transitional provisions and repeals

(1)The minor and consequential amendments specified in Schedule 5 and the transitional provisions specified in Schedule 6 shall have effect as provided by those Schedules.

(2)Subject to those transitional provisions and to section 38 of the [1889 c. 63.] Interpretation Act 1889 as extended by section 120(3), the statutory provisions mentioned in Schedule 7 (which includes certain obsolete or unnecessary enactments) are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.

123Short title and commencement

(1)This Act may be cited as the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978.

(2)This Act shall come into force on such day as the Lord Chancellor may by order made by statutory instrument appoint, and different days may be so appointed for different provisions and for different purposes.

(3)Without prejudice to the operation of Schedule 6, an order under subsection (2) may make such transitional provision as appears to the Lord Chancellor to be necessary or expedient in connection with the provisions thereby brought into force, including such adaptations of those provisions or any provisions of this Act then in force, and such savings of the provisions repealed by Schedule 7, as appear to him to be necessary or expedient in consequence of the partial operation of this Act (whether before or after the day appointed by the order).

(4)Any reference in this Act to the commencement of a provision of this Act shall be construed as a reference to the day appointed under subsection (2) for the coming into operation of that provision.

SCHEDULES

Section 41.

SCHEDULE 1Appeals to House of Lords in Certain Criminal Matters

1(1)Subject to sub-paragraph (2) an application to the court below for leave to appeal shall be made within the period of fourteen days beginning with the date of the decision of that court; and an application to the House of Lords for such leave shall be made within the period of fourteen days beginning with the date on which the application is refused by the court below.

(2)Except in a case involving sentence of death, the House of Lords or the court below may, upon application made at any time by the defendant, extend the time within which an application may be made by him to that House or that court under sub-paragraph (1).

2Any application for leave to appeal in a case involving sentence of death, and any appeal for which leave is granted on such an application, shall be heard and determined with as much expedition as practicable.

3(1)Without prejudice to any other power to grant bail, a person appealing or applying for leave to appeal from the Court of Appeal or the High Court under section 41 may be admitted to bail by the court below pending the appeal; and in relation to any recognizances to be entered into under section 148 of the [1964 c. 21 (N.I.).] Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 or under section 4 of [1964 c. 3 (N.I.).] County Court Appeals Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 any reference in those ; sections to the judgment of the Court of Appeal shall be construed as including a reference to the judgment of the House of Lords or, if the case is remitted by that House to the Court of Appeal, to the judgment of that court on the case as so remitted.

(2)Where application is made to the High Court or the Court of Appeal for leave to appeal, that court may give such directions as it thinks fit for discharging or enlarging any recognizances entered into by the applicant or any surety, under any statutory provision or otherwise, with reference to the proceedings of that court.

4(1)Where the defendant in any proceedings from which an appeal lies under section 41 would, but for the decision of the court below, be liable to be detained, and immediately after that decision the prosecutor is granted, or gives notice that he intends to apply for, leave to appeal, the court may make an order providing for the detention of the defendant or directing that he shall not be released except on bail, which may be granted by the court as under paragraph 3 so long as any appeal under section 41 is pending.

(2)An order under sub-paragraph (1) shall (unless the appeal has previously been disposed of) cease to have effect at the expiration of the period for which the defendant would have been liable to be detained but for the decision of the court below.

(3)Any order made under sub-paragraph (1) for the detention of a defendant who, but for the decision of the court below, would be liable to be detained in pursuance of an order or direction under the [1961 c. 15 (N.I.).] Mental Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1961, shall be an order authorising his continued detention in pursuance of the order or direction under the said Act, and the provisions of the said Act with respect to persons so liable (including provisions as to the renewal of authority for detention and the removal or discharge of patients) shall apply accordingly.

(4)Where the court below has power to make an order under sub-paragraph (1) and either no such order is made or the defendant is released or discharged by virtue of sub-paragraph (2) or (3) before the appeal is disposed of, the defendant shall not be liable to be again detained as the result of the decision of the House of Lords on the appeal.

5(1)Where a person subject to a sentence is admitted to bail pending an appeal under section 41, the time during which he is at large after being so admitted shall be disregarded in computing the term of his sentence.

(2)Subject to sub-paragraph (1), any sentence passed on an appeal under section 41 in substitution for another sentence shall, unless the House of Lords or the court below otherwise directs, begin to run from the time when that other sentence would have begun to run.

6(1)Rules of court may be made—

(a)for determining the cases in which the powers of the Court of Appeal under section 41 and this Schedule may be exercised by a judge thereof;

(b)for prescribing the persons before whom and the manner in which a recognizance shall be entered into, or other security given, where bail is granted to a person under paragraph 3 or 4 pending an appeal under section 41 from a decision of the High Court or Court of Appeal, and the manner in which any such recognizance or security may be enforced;

(c)for authorising the recommittal of any person to whom bail is granted.

(2)A defendant who is detained pending an appeal under section 41 shall not be entitled to be present on the hearing of the appeal or of any proceedings preliminary or incidental thereto except where an order of the House of Lords or rules of court authorise him to be present or where that House or the court below, as the case may be, gives him leave to be present.

Section 68.

SCHEDULE 2Departments of the Supreme Court

DepartmentOfficer
The Lord Chief Justice's OfficePrincipal Secretary to the Lord Chief Justice
The Central OfficeMaster (Queen's Bench and Appeals)
The Chancery OfficeMaster (Chancery)
The Bankruptcy and Companies OfficeMaster (Bankruptcy)
The Probate and Matrimonial OfficeMaster (Probate and Matrimonial)
The Office of Care and ProtectionMaster (Care and Protection)
The Taxing OfficeMaster (Taxing Office)

Section 70.

SCHEDULE 3Statutory Offices

Persons qualified
1. Office2. Description3. Standing4. Functions of office
The functions heretofore exercised by the holder of the office of—
Principal Secretary to the Lord Chief Justice.Barrister10 yearsPermanent Secretary of the Supreme Court (other than functions which by virtue of this Act become functions of the Lord Chancellor).
Legal Secretary to the Lord Chief Justice.Barrister7 yearsAssistant Secretary of the Supreme Court.
Master (Queen's Bench and Appeals)Barrister or solicitor10 yearsRegistrar of the Supreme Court.
Registrar (Queen's Bench and Appeals)Barrister or solicitor7 yearsAssistant Registrar of the Supreme Court. Admiralty Registrar.
Master (Chancery)Solicitor10 yearsChancery and Bankruptcy Registrar in relation to or in connection with Chancery matters.
Chief Clerk in relation to or in connection with Chancery matters other than wardship, adoption and company matters.
Master (Bankruptcy)Solicitor10 yearsChancery and Bankruptcy Registrar in relation to or in connection with Bankruptcy matters.
Chief Clerk in relation to or in connection with company matters.
Registrar (Chancery and Bankruptcy)Solicitor7 yearsAssistant Chancery and Bankruptcy Registrar.
Assistant Chief Clerk in relation to or in connection with Chancery matters other than wardship and adoption.
Master (Probate and Matrimonial)Barrister or solicitor10 yearsChief Probate Registrar.
Registrar (Probate and Matrimonial)Barrister or solicitor7 yearsAssistant Probate Registrar.
Master (Care and Protection)Barrister or solicitor10 yearsRegistrar in Lunacy.
Chief Clerk in relation to or in connection with wardship and adoption.
Registrar (Care and Protection)Barrister or solicitor7 yearsAssistant Registrar in Lunacy.
Assistant Chief Clerk in relation to or in connection with wardship and adoption.
Master (Taxing Office)Solicitor10 yearsTaxing Master.
Master (Enforcement of Judgments)Barrister or solicitor10 yearsMaster for the Enforcement of Judgments.
Judicial Officer (Enforcement of Judgments).Barrister or solicitor7 yearsOfficer designated under section 5(1) of the Judgments (Enforcement) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.
Circuit RegistrarSolicitor7 yearsDistrict Probate Registrar.

Section 72(2).

SCHEDULE 4Superannuation of Statutory Officers

1In its application to a statutory officer in respect of his service as such the principal civil service pension scheme shall be modified as set out in paragraphs 2 and 3.

2For the purpose of calculating reckonable service (but not qualifying service) any period of service after the commencement of section 70 shall be deemed to be increased by one third; but an officer shall not be deemed by virtue of this paragraph to have more than 40 years' reckonable service.

3Notwithstanding paragraph 2, any lump sum payable in addition to pension under the scheme in respect of a period of actual service not exceeding 12 years shall be calculated in accordance with the following Table, with proportionate adjustment for any fraction of a year's service:—

Length of serviceLump sum
Up to 8 years3/80 ths of pensionable pay for each year.
9 years30/80 ths of pensionable pay.
10 years36/80 ths of pensionable pay.
11 years42/80 ths of pensionable pay.
12 years48/80 ths of pensionable pay.

4Expressions used in this Schedule and in the principal civil service pension scheme have the same meaning in this Schedule as in that scheme.

Section 122(1).

SCHEDULE 5Minor and Consequential Amendments

PART IGeneral Amendments

1(1)Except where the contrary is expressly provided by or under this Act, references in any statutory provision to, or which are by virtue of any statutory provision heretofore in force to be construed as references to, the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland, the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland or the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland or to divisions, judges, offices or officers of any such court, shall be construed, respectively, as references to the Supreme Court exclusive of the Crown Court, the High Court or the Court of Appeal as constituted under this Act and to the divisions, judges, offices or officers of those courts by which or by whom any jurisdiction or business to which the reference relates is for the time being to be exercised or transacted, whether by virtue of this Act or of any other statutory provision.

(2)The reference in sub-paragraph (1) to business to be transacted includes a reference to any matter requiring the concurrence, approval, advice or consent of a judge or of more than one judge of the Supreme Court, the High Court or the Court of Appeal.

2(1)In any statutory provision whether passed or made before, on or after the coming into operation of Part IV of this Act, for any reference or expression in the first column of the Table below there shall, in relation to Northern Ireland, be substituted the relevant reference or expression in the second column of the Table.

(2)Sub-paragraph (1) shall not apply where the context otherwise requires and in particular shall not apply in relation to a sentence imposed, or other things done, by a court before the coming into operation of Part IV of this Act or to any reference to records of any court.

TABLE

ReferenceSubstituted reference
1. Court of gaol delivery or of oyer and terminer.The Crown Court.
2. Court of assize, or assizes, where the context does not relate to civil jurisdiction.The Crown Court.
3. Court of assize, or assizes, where the context relates either to criminal or civil jurisdiction.The Crown Court or the High Court or, as the case may be, the High Court and not the Crown Court.
4. The county court where the context relates to the jurisdiction of that court to try persons on indictment.The Crown Court.
5. Judge, justice or commissioner of assize, or judge acting during assizes.The Crown Court or the High Court or both, according as the reference is to criminal jurisdiction or civil jurisdiction or to both.
6. County court judge or recorder where the context relates to the jurisdiction of the county court to try persons on indictment.The Crown Court.
7. Clerk of the Crown and peace where the context relates to the jurisdiction of the county court to try persons on indictment or to the criminal jurisdiction of courts of assize.The appropriate officer of the Crown Court.
8. Other officer in the county court service for Northern Ireland whose duties related exclusively to the criminal jurisdiction of courts of assize.The appropriate officer of the Crown Court.
9. Clerk of the court where the court is the Crown Court.The appropriate officer of the Crown Court.

3References in any statutory provision to rules made under section 7 of the [1962 c. 30.] Northern Ireland Act 1962 or which are by virtue of any statutory provision heretofore in force to be construed as references to such rules shall be construed as references to rules of court made under section 55 of this Act.

4Paragraphs 1 to 3 apply subject to the provisions of this Act and, in particular, do not prejudice the operation of any specific amendments contained in this Schedule.

PART IISpecific Amendments

(1) Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom

[1801 c. 90.] The Crown Debts Act 1801

In section 5 for the words from " into the Bank of Ireland " to the end substitute the words " into the Supreme Court in Northern Ireland ".

[1805 c. 92.] The Writ of Subpoena Act 1805

In sections 3 and 4 references to a writ of subpoena requiring the appearance of a person to give evidence shall be construed as including references to any summons or order issued by the Crown Court in Northern Ireland for the appearance of a person before it

[1831 c. 44.] The Tumultuous Risings (Ireland) Act 1831

In section 9 for the words from " the judge, assistant barrister " to " court as aforesaid " substitute the words " any judge of the Crown Court " and for the words from "clerk of the crown, clerk of the peace" to " them forthwith" substitute the words " appropriate officer of that court ".

[1836 c. 13.] The Constabulary (Ireland) Act 1836

In section 16 for die words "at any assizes or sessions of the peace " substitute the words " by any court of justice in Northern Ireland ".

[1837 c. 83.] The Parliamentary Documents Deposit Act 1837

For any reference to the clerk of the peace there shall, as respects Northern Ireland, be substituted a reference to the clerk of the district council.

[1843 c. 98.] The Slave Trade Act 1843

In section 4(1), as it applies to Northern Ireland, for the words " Her Majesty's said court" and " Her Majesty in her Court of Queen's Bench (in manner set forth and prescribed in the East India Company Act 1772) " substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

[1845 c. 18.] The Lands Clauses Consolidation Act 1845

At the end of section 3 add the following definition—

  • ' Supreme Court ' shall mean the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland where the same shall relate to monies to be paid or deposited in respect of lands situate in Northern Ireland..

Section 9 shall, in the case of purchase money or compensation for, or compensation for damage or injury to, lands in Northern Ireland, have effect with the insertion after the words " deposited in the Bank ". of the words " or the Supreme Court ".

Section 69 shall, in the case of purchase money or compensation payable in respect of, or of an interest in, or for damage to, lands in Northern Ireland, have effect with the substitution for the words from " be paid into the Bank " to " the said courts " of the words " be paid into the Supreme Court ".

Section 70 shall, in the case of money paid into the Supreme Court, have effect with the substitution for the words from " and until the money " to " annual proceeds thereof paid " of the words " and if, before it is so applied, it is dealt with under section 81 or 82 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978, the annual proceeds thereof shall be paid ".

Section 71 shall, in the case of purchase money or compensation payable in respect of, or of an interest in, or for damage to, lands in Northern Ireland, have effect with the substitution for the words " into the Bank " where they twice occur of the words " into the Supreme Court ".

Section 73 shall, in the case of money payable in respect of the taking, using or interfering with lands in Northern Ireland, have effect with the substitution for the words " into the Bank " where they twice occur of the words " into the Supreme Court ".

Section 76 shall, in the case of, or of an interest in, lands in Northern Ireland that have, or has, been purchased or taken, have effect with the substitution for the words from " to deposit the purchase money " to the end of the words " to pay into the Supreme Court the purchase money or compensation payable in respect of such lands ".

Section 78 shall, in the case of purchase money or compensation payable in respect of, or of an interest in, lands in Northern Ireland, have effect as if, after the word " so" (in both places where it occurs) there were inserted the words " paid or " and as if for the words from " order such money " to " thereof " (where it last occurs) there were substituted the words " order distribution of the money according to the respective estates, titles or interests of the parties making claim to such money or lands, or any part thereof, and if, before the money is distributed, it is dealt with under section 81 or 82 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 payment likewise of the dividends thereof ".

Section 84 shall, in the case of lands in Northern Ireland, have effect with the substitution for the words " deposited in the Bank " of the words " paid into the Supreme Court ".

Section 85 shall, in the case of lands in Northern Ireland have effect as if for the words " to deposit in the Bank ", the words " so to be deposited", the words "for deposit in the Bank", the words " deposited in the Bank " and the words " such deposit" there were respectively substituted the words " to pay into the Supreme Court " , the words " so to be paid ", the words " for payment into the Supreme Court", the words " paid into the Supreme Court" and the words " such payment ".

The Act shall, in its application to Northern Ireland, have effect with the substitution for sections 86, 87 and 88 of the following section:—

86Application of Funds in Court.

Money paid under section 85 of this Act into the Supreme Court shall remain there by way of security to the parties whose lands shall so have been entered upon for the performance of the condition of the bond to be given by the promoters of the undertaking, as hereinbefore mentioned, and, if dealt with under section 81 or 82 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 shall be accumulated; and upon the condition of such bond being fully performed the High Court may, on the application of the promoters, order it, or the proceeds of the securities in which it has been invested, together with the accumulation thereof, to be paid to the promoters of the undertaking, or if such condition shall not be fully performed it shall be lawful for the said Court to order the same to be applied, in such manner as it shall think fit, for the benefit of the parties for whose security the same shall have been paid.

Section 89 shall, in the case of lands in Northern Ireland, have effect as if for the words " deposited the same in the Bank " there were substitued the words " paid the same into the Supreme Court ".

Section 99 shall, in the case of lands in Northern Ireland, have effect with the substitution for the words " and upon payment or deposit in the Bank of the compensation so determined " of the words " and upon payment of the compensation so determined either to the persons entitled thereto or into the Supreme Court ".

Section 100 shall, in the case of lands in Northern Ireland, have effect with the substitution for the words " on deposit thereof in the Bank " of the words " on payment thereof into the Supreme Court", with the substitution for the words " deposited as aforesaid " of the words "paid into the Supreme Court as aforesaid" and with the substitution for the words from " by payment " to the end of the words " by payment, as hereinafter provided, of compensation for the same either to the persons entitled thereto or into the Supreme Court ".

Section 107 shall, in the case of lands in Northern Ireland over which commonable or other rights subsist, have effect with the substitution for the words " deposit in the Bank in the manner provided in the like case " of the words " payment into the Supreme Court " with the omission of the words " or deposited " and with the substitution for the words " so deposited " of the words "so paid into the Supreme Court ".

Section 109 shall, in the case of lands in Northern Ireland subject to a mortgage, have effect with the substitution for the words " to deposit in the bank, in the manner provided by this Act in like cases " of the words " to pay into the Supreme Court ".

Section 111 shall, in the case of lands in Northern Ireland subject to a mortgage, have effect with the substitution for the words from " to deposit " to " every such payment or deposit" of the words " to pay into the Supreme Court the amount of such value or compensation ; and the making of payment to the mortgagee or into the Supreme Court" and for the words " by such payment or deposit" of the words " by payment to the mortgagee or into the Supreme Court ".

Section 113 shall, in the case of lands in Northern Ireland subject to a mortgage, have effect with the substitution for the words from " to pay the amount " to " such payment or deposit" of the words " to pay into the Supreme Court the amount of such value or compensation ; and the making of payment to the mortgagee or into the Supreme Court ".

Section 117 shall, in the case of lands in Northern Ireland charged with payments or incumbrances not otherwise provided for in the Act, have effect with the substitution for the words from " to deposit " to " like cases ", of the words " to pay into the Supreme Court the amount of the compensation ".

In Schedule A as it applies to the conveyance of land, or an interest in land, in Northern Ireland, for the words from " Bank " where first occurring to " Chancery" substitute the words " the Supreme Court ".

[1848 c. 42.] The Indictable Offences Act 1848

In sections 12 and 14 for any reference to justices of oyer and terminer or gaol delivery in Northern Ireland, there shall be substituted a reference to the Crown Court there.

[1850 c. 60.] The Trustee Act 1850

The following amendments shall be made to the Act as it applies to Northern Ireland.

In section 2 for the definition of " Lord Chancellor " substitute the following definition—

  • The words " the High Court " shall mean Her Majesty's High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland ;.

Throughout the Act for any reference (however expressed) to the Lord Chancellor, intrusted by virtue of the Queen's sign manual with the care of the persons and estates of lunatics, substitute a reference to the High Court.

In section 41 for the words " one of the masters in ordinary of the Court of Chancery " substitute the words " the Master (Chancery) ".

In section 45 for the words " the Court of Chancery ", " the said Court of Chancery " and " the said court" substitute, in each case the words " the High Court ".

In section 48 for the words from " Bank of England " to " Accountant General " substitute the words " Supreme Court " and the words " of the Bank of England " shall be omitted.

[1851 c. 70.] The Railways Act (Ireland) 1851

In section 19 for the words from " into the Bank of Ireland " to " Court of Chancery in Ireland" substitute the words " into the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland " and for the words " into the said Bank " substitute the words " into that Court ".

[1851 c. 90.] The Fines Act (Ireland) 1851

In section 1 for the words from " the several officers " to " the proceedings " substitute the words as follows:—

(a)for a magistrates' court, the clerk of petty sessions; and

(b)for any other court, such person as may be prescribed by the rules regulating the procedure of that court, or if no person is so prescribed, the person charged with the duty of recording the proceedings of the court..

In section 2, in paragraph 2 for the words from " within fourteen days " to " or sittings " substitute the words " immediately after the conclusion of the sitting " and for the words " thirty days " substitute the words " fourteen days ".

In section 3, in paragraph 1 for the words " within one week from the expiration of thirty days " substitute the words " immediately upon the expiration of fourteen days ".

In section 10 for the words " several assistant barristers, recorders of cities or boroughs and ", the words " assistant barrister, recorder " and the words " assistant barrister or recorder " substitute the words " judge of the Crown Court ".

[1851 c. 93.] The Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851

In section 30 for the reference to justices of oyer and terminer and general gaol delivery in Northern Ireland there shall be substituted a reference to the Crown Court there.

[1852 c. 55.] The Trustee Act 1852

In sections 6 and 7 for the words " the Lord Chancellor intrusted as aforesaid ", wherever occurring, substitute the words " the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland ".

[1857 c. 60.] The Irish Bankrupt and Insolvent Act 1857

Throughout the Act for any reference to a general order by the Court substitute a reference to rules of court made under section 55 of this Act. In section 4 for the definition of " the Court " substitute—

  • " the Court " shall mean the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland;.

In section 59 for the words " Lord Chancellor" substitute the words " Secretary of State ".

[1857 c. 79.] The Probates and Letters of Administration Act (Ireland) 1857

For any reference in sections 55, 57 or 71 to rules or orders under the Act of 1857 substitute a reference to rules of court made under section 55 of this Act.

[1858 c. 72.] The Landed Estates Court (Ireland) Act 1858

In section 56 for the words from " into the Bank of Ireland " to " receipt of the money " substitute the words " into the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland ( " the Supreme Court"), and " ; and the words " into the bank " shall cease to have effect.

In section 57 for the words " into the Bank of Ireland " and " into the said Bank" (wherever they occur) substitute the words " into the Supreme Court ".

In section 66 for the words " the Lord High Chancellor " and " in him " substitute respectively the words " the High Court " and " in it ".

In section 70 for the words from " transferred" to " Chancery in England " substitute the words " paid into the Supreme Court or (where the case may require) the Supreme Court of Judicature of England " ; for the words from " and the High Court" to " Rolls " substitute the words " and the High Courts of Justice'; for the words " transferred to the account of the Accountant General of" substitute the words " paid into "; and for the words from "the Act passed" to the end substitute the words " section 63 of the Trustee Act 1925 or section 63 of the Trustee Act (Northern Ireland) 1958 ".

[1860 c. 97.] The Railways Act (Ireland) 1860

In section 2 for the words " depositing in the Bank of Ireland as herein directed" substitute the words " paying into the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland ".

In section 4 for the words " deposited as last aforesaid shall remain in the Bank " substitute the words " paid into the Supreme Court is ".

[1860 c. 112.] The Defence Act 1860

In sections 21 and 22 for the words " the Bank of Ireland" substitute the words " the Supreme Court in Northern Ireland ".

[1860 c. 152.] The Tramways (Ireland) Act 1860

In section 29, for paragraphs 1 and 2, substitute—

1Within fourteen days after the making of the Order they shall either pay into the Supreme Court a sum equal to five per centum of the estimated cost of the undertaking, or deposit in the Court, or transfer into the name of the Accountant General, Exchequer bills or other Government securities equal to that sum at the price at which such bills or securities were originally purchased by the promoters, which price shall be proved by the broker's certificate of such purchase:.

[1870 c. 110.] The Matrimonial Causes and Marriage Law (Ireland) Amendment Act 1870

In section 7 for the words from "in a court of record" to the end substitute the words " in Her Majesty's High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland ".

In section 13 for the words from the beginning to "Court for Matrimonial Causes and Matters " substitute the words " In exercising the jurisdiction referred to in section 7 the High Court " and for the words from " and to the rules " to the end substitute the words " and to rules of court ".

[1871 c. 22.] The Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871

Subject to any specific amendment made by the succeeding paragraphs, throughout the Act for any reference to the Lord Chancellor intrusted as aforesaid (except in the definition of that expression in section 2) substitute a reference to the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland.

In section 2 for the definitions of the expressions " the Lord Chancellor " , " the Lord Chancellor intrusted as aforesaid ", " the master ", " legal visitors " and " solicitors for minors and lunatics " substitute the following definitions—

  • " the High Court " means Her Majesty's High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland ;

  • " the Supreme Court " means the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland;

  • " the master " means the Master (Care and Protection) ;

  • " legal visitors " and " medical visitors " mean respectively the legal visitors and the medical visitors appointed by the Lord Chief Justice under section 28 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ;

  • " the Official Solicitor " means the Official Solicitor to the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland appointed under section 75 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ;

  • " rules of court " means rules made under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978.

In section 6 for the words " the registrar " substitute the words " the master "; and for the words from " the Lord Chancellor" onwards substitute the words " rules of court ".

In section 8 for the words " the registrar " substitute the words " the master ".

In section 11 for the words " the office of the registrar " substitute the words " the Office of Care and Protection ".

In section 12 for the words " the solicitor for minors and lunatics " substitute the words " the Official Solicitor " ; and for the words from " in such manner " onwards substitute the words " in such manner as the High Court may order, or, if it makes no order in the matter, in such manner as may be provided by rules of court ".

In section 13 for the words " the registrar " substitute the words " the master ".

In section 17 for the words " the office of the registrar " substitute the words " the Office of Care and Protection ".

In section 22 for the words " the office of the registrar " substitute the words " the Office of Care and Protection ".

In section 28 for the words "the High Court of Chancery in Ireland " substitute the words " the High Court ".

In section 30 for the words from " into the Bank of Ireland " to " Chancery " substitute the words " into the Supreme Court " ; for the words " into the name and with the privity of the said Accountant General" substitute the words " into the Supreme Court " ; and for the words " the said Accountant General ", where secondly occurring, substitute the words " the Accountant General of the Supreme Court ".

In section 35 for the words from " the general orders " to " in force " substitute the words " rules of court ".

In section 38 for the words " the offices of the master or registrar " substitute the words " the Office of Care and Protection ".

In section 41 for the words from " shall be left " to " Chancery " substitute the words " shall be filed in the Office of Care and Protection; and the Accountant-General of the Supreme Court ".

In section 47 for the words from " and the Lord Chancellor " to " seem meet" substitute the words " and rules of court may provide ".

In section 48 for the words from " when drawn up " to " registrar in lunacy " (where secondly occurring) substitute the words " shall be entered by the master ".

In section 49 for the words from " the name of " to " Chancery ", where it first occurs, substitute the words " the Supreme Court ";

for the words " the said Accountant General" substitute the words " the Accountant General of the Supreme Court " ; for the words " the Court of Chancery ", where secondly occurring, substitute the words " the High Court " ; for the words " signed by the registrar " substitute the words " signed by the master " ; and for the words from "and the registrar in lunacy" to "respectively" substitute the words " and the master shall certify ".

In section 52 for the words " office of the master " substitute the words " Office of Care and Protection ".

In section 53 for the words " the registrar or other proper officer of Her Majesty's Court of Probate in Ireland " substitute the words " the Master (Probate and Matrimonial) ".

In section 55(2) for the words from " the books " to " Chancery " substitute the words " the Supreme Court ".

In section 56 for the words from " as the Lord Chancellor" onwards substitute the words " as may be provided for by rules of court or from time to time ordered by the High Court in any particular case ".

In section 59 for the words " the office of the registrar " substitute the words " the Office of Care and Protection ".

In sections 73, 88 and 99, in each case, for the words " the Court of Chancery " substitute the words " the High Court ".

In section 90 for the words " the Court of Chancery " substitute the words " the High Court " ; and for the words " the name of the Accountant General of the Court of Chancery " substitute the words " the Supreme Court ".

In section 105 for the words " the office of the registrar " substitute the words " the Office of Care and Protection, and vouch ".

In section 110 for the words from " the office of the registrar " to " separate credit" substitute the words " the Office of Care and Protection and an office copy deposited in the office for the business of the Accountant General of the Supreme Court, and the Accountant General shall thereupon transfer or cause to be transferred such sum or amount of cash or stock held in the Supreme Court to the separate credit ".

In section 111 for the words "the Lord Chancellor intrusted as aforesaid shall from time to time direct" substitute the words " may be provided by rules of court ".

In section 114 for the words from " the Lord Chancellor shall" to " last-mentioned cases " substitute the words " may be provided by rules of court, but so that no percentage be levied or paid in the last-mentioned case ".

For section 117 substitute—

117Power to direct certain expenses to be borne by estates.

Rules of court may provide, or the High Court may by an order made in any particular case direct, that any remuneration for services of the medical visitors or legal visitors in connection with any lunatic, or any expenditure connected with the management of the estate of any lunatic, shall be paid out of his estate..

In section 118 for the words from the beginning to " seem meet substitute " Rules of court may make provision ".

After section 118 insert the following section—

119Remuneration of the Lord Chief Justice's Visitors.

(1)There may be paid to the legal visitors and the medical visitors such remuneration and travelling and other allowances upon such conditions and on such scales as may be determined by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice and with the concurrence of the Minister for the Civil Service.

(2)This section does not prejudice the power conferred by section 117 of this Act to provide for or direct that any such remuneration or expenditure as is mentioned in that section shall be borne by a particular estate..

[1871 c. 65.] The Juries Act (Ireland) 1871

In section 18 for the words from " a fee of one shilling" to the end substitute the words " such fee as may be prescribed by rules of court made under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

In section 41 for the words " in any court of assize or nisi prius " substitute the words " in the High Court or the Crown Court ".

In section 42 for the words from " any court of assize " to " suit or action" substitute the words " the High Court or the Crown Court ".

[1872 c. 58.] The Bankruptcy (Ireland) Amendment Act 1872

In section 4 for the definition of " the Court " substitute—

  • " The Court " shall mean the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland ;.

In section 57 for the words from " directed " to the end substitute the words " directed by rules of court ".

In section 124 for the words from the beginning to " may prescribe " substitute the words " Rules of court may be made under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 for the effectual execution of this Act and such rules may, in particular, prescribe ".

[1873 c. 57.] The Consolidated Fund (Permanent Charges Redemption) Act 1873

In section 3, as it applies to Northern Ireland, for the words from " paid into the Court of Chancery " to " 1872 " substitute the words " paid into the Supreme Court " and for the words " the said Court" substitute the words " the High Court ".

[1874 c. 72.] The Fines Act (Ireland) 1851, Amendment Act 1874

In section 2 for the words " assistant barrister, recorder " substitute the words " judge of the Crown Court ".

[1875 c. 17.] The Explosives Act 1875

In section 66(1), as it applies to Northern Ireland, for the words " stipendiary magistrate " substitute the words " resident magistrate ".

[1876 c. 59.] The Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876

In section 25 for the words " As to Ireland, the superior courts of law and equity at Dublin ; " substitute the words " As to Northern Ireland, Her Majesty's High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland and Her Majesty's Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland ".

[1877 c. 18.] The Settled Estates Act 1877

In section 34 for the words " the Bank of Ireland to the account of the Accountant General ex parte the applicant" substitute the words " the Supreme Court to the account of the applicant ".

[1879 c. 50.] The Bills of Sale (Ireland) Act 1879

In section 4 for the definition of " prescribed " substitute—

  • " prescribed " means prescribed by rules of court made under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ;.

For section 13 substitute—

13As to registrar.

The Master (Queen's Bench and Appeals) or such other officer serving in the Supreme Court as the Lord Chief Justice may designate shall be the registrar for the purposes of this Act.".

For section 19 substitute—

19Fees.

Section 116 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 shall apply to fees under this Act and such fees may be fixed in the manner authorised by that section..

[1882 c. 38.] The Settled Land Act 1882

At the end of section 2 as it applies to Northern Ireland add—

(11)Any reference in the Settled Land Acts 1882 to 1890 to money, securities or proceeds of sale being paid or transferred into court shall be construed as referring to the money, securities or proceeds being paid or transferred into the Supreme Court or any other court that has jurisdiction, and any reference in those Acts to the court in a context referring to the investment or application of money, securities or proceeds of sale paid or transferred into court, shall be construed, in the case of money, securities or proceeds paid or transferred into the Supreme Court, as referring to the High Court, and, in the case of money, securities or proceeds paid into another court, as referring to that other court..

[1887 c. 33.] The Land Law (Ireland) Act 1887

In section 34 in the definition of " prescribed " for the words from " other proceedings " to the end substitute the words " other proceedings, means prescribed by rules of court made under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 or county court rules, as the case may be ; "

[1887 c. 57.] The Deeds of Arrangement Act 1887

In section 15(2) for the words " the eighty-fourth section of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Ireland) 1877 as regards Ireland " substitute the words " , as respects Northern Ireland, section 116 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1890 c. 24.] The Deeds of Arrangement Amendment Act 1890

In section 2(7) for the words "the eighty-fourth section of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Ireland) 1877 " substitute the words " section 116 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1892 c. 64.] The Witnesses (Public Inquiries) Protection Act 1892

In section 3, as it applies to Northern Ireland, for the words " quarter sessions or assizes " substitute the words " Crown Court ".

[1896 c. 8.] The Life Insurance Companies (Payment into Court) Act 1896

In section 3, as it applies to Northern Ireland, for the words from "High Court" to "into the High Court" substitute the words " Supreme Court ".

[1906 c. 54.] The Town Tenants (Ireland) Act 1906

For section 11 substitute—

11Appeals.

Any person aggrieved by any determination of the county court under this Act may appeal to the High Court as though the determination were a decree made in exercise of the jurisdiction conferred by Part III of the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959, and the appeal were brought under the County Court Appeals Act (Northern Ireland) 1964..

[1932 c. 11.] The Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1932

In section 9(3) for the words "under the Landed Estates Court (Ireland) Act 1858 or any Act amending that Act or under the Land Purchase Acts an application is made" substitute the words " an application is made to the High Court or to a county court ".

[1933 c. 13.] The Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1933

In section 13(b) for the words from " respectively" to the end substitute the words " respectively, references to sections 55 and 116 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1938 c. 22.] The Trade Marks Act 1938

In section 18, in its application to proceedings in Northern Ireland relating to trade marks, in subsection (7) for the words from the beginning to " the Court" substitute the words " On an appeal under this section, the Court " and in subsection (8) after the word " prescribed" insert the words " by rules of court made for the purposes of this subsection under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

In section 32(1) as it applies to such proceedings as aforesaid, for the words from " may apply" to " the Registrar" substitute the words " may apply to the Court or, at the option of the applicant and subject to the provisions of section 54 of this Act, in the prescribed manner to the Registrar ".

In section 68(1) in the definition of " prescribed " after the word " means" insert the words " (subject to provisions relating to Northern Ireland) ".

[1943 c. 21.] The War Damage Act 1943

In section 33(1), as it applies to Northern Ireland, for the words from "make payment thereof" to the end substitute the words " make payment thereof into the Supreme Court or, if the amount thereof does not exceed £500, into a county court ".

[1943 c. 39.] The Pensions Appeal Tribunals Act 1943

In section 6(2), as it applies to Northern Ireland, for the words from " a judge of " to " conclusive " substitute the words " the Court of Appeal, appeal therefrom, within such time as may be limited by rules of court made under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978, to the Court of Appeal whose decision shall be final ".

In section 14 for the words from " Lord Chancellor " to the end substitute the words " Lord Chancellor (except the reference in paragraph 7A of the Schedule) there shall be substituted references to the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland ".

In the Schedule, as it applies to Northern Ireland, in paragraph 5(4)(c) for the words " a judge of the High Court" substitute the words " the Court of Appeal ".

[1947 c. 14.] The Exchange Control Act 1947

In Schedule 4 in paragraph 8(2) for the words from "may be made " to the end substitute the words " may be made, as respects the Supreme Court under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 and, as respects county courts, under section 146 of the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 and, as respects magistrates' courts, under section 23 of the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964; and the reference to the court in sub-paragraph (a) shall, as regards rules to be made as respects the Supreme Court, be construed as referring to that Court, as regards rules to be made as respects county courts, be construed as referring to such county court as may be prescribed by the rules, and, as regards rules to be made as respects any other court, be construed as referring to that court. ".

[1947 c. 44.] The Crown Proceedings Act 1947

In this Act as it applies in Northern Ireland in relation to Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and in relation to Her Majesty's Government in Northern Ireland—

(a)in section 20(2), for paragraph (c) substitute—

(c)the provisions of any rule of court relating to costs in actions brought in the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland which could have been brought in an inferior court there shall not apply to any proceedings by the Crown ;and

(b)in section 38(2), in the definition of " Civil proceedings " for the words " proceedings on the Crown side of the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland " substitute the words " an application for judicial review pursuant to section 18 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978

[1949 c. 68.] The Representation of the People Act 1949

The following amendments shall be made to the Act as it applies to Northern Ireland.

In sections 66(6), 74(9), 109(8), 128(6), 145(4) and 152(6), in each case, for the words " for the time being on the rota for the trial of parliamentary election petitions " substitute the words " of the High Court or the Court of Appeal for the time being selected under section 108 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

In section 110(1) for the words from "two judges" to "their seniority " substitute the words " the two judges of the High Court or the Court of Appeal for the time being selected under section 108 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

In section 123(1) for the words " at assizes " substitute the words " in the High Court ".

In section 126(2) for the words " further consideration by the High Court " substitute the words " consideration by the Court of Appeal ",

and for the words " High Court " where twice subsequently occurring substitute the words " Court of Appeal ".

In section 163 in the definition of " prescribed " for the words from " rules " to the end substitute the words " rules of court made under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ; ".

[1950 c. 27.] The Arbitration Act 1950

In section 38 as it applies to Northern Ireland for subsection (3) substitute—

(3)Subject to the provisions of this section, rules of court may be made under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 with respect to the evidence which must be furnished by a party seeking to enforce an award under this Part of this Act..

[1950 c. 37.] The Maintenance Orders Act 1950

In section 13(1) for the words " in accordance with rules made by the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland " substitute the words " in the prescribed manner ".

In section 25(2) for the words from the beginning to " regulating " substitute the words " Rules made under section 23 of the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 may regulate ".

In section 28(1) in the definition of " prescribed " for the words " by the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland under this Act" substitute the words " under section 23 of the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 ".

[1956 c. 46.] The Administration of Justice Act 1956

In Part I of Schedule 1 after paragraph 4 insert—

Bail in Admiralty matters

4AIn any proceedings in the High Court under this Part of this Schedule, bail may be taken to answer the judgment of the High Court (or of the Court of Appeal or House of Lords on an appeal from that judgment) and the High Court may withhold the release of any property under its arrest until such bail has been given..

[1957 c. 52.] The Geneva Conventions Act 1957

In section 4(1) as substituted by section 52 of, and Schedule 5 to, the Criminal Appeal Act 1968, for the words " the Court of criminal Appeal in Northern Ireland " substitute the words " the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland ".

[1960 c. 65.] The Administration of Justice Act 1960

In paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 for the word " accordingly" substitute the words " as references to a court of the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland consisting of two or more judges ".

[1960 c. 66.] The Professions Supplementary to Medicine Act 1960

In paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 2 after the words " Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act 1925 " insert the words " , of section 67 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1966 c. 36.] The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966

In paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 2 after the words " Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act 1925 " insert the words " , of section 67 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1966 c. 41.] The Arbitration (International Investment Disputes) Act 1966

In section 8(b) for the words " section 7 of the Northern Ireland Act 1962" substitute the words " section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1968 c. 19.] The Criminal Appeal Act 1968

In the paragraph of Part I of Schedule 5 which substitutes section 4(1) and (1A) for the former section 4(1) of the [1957 c. 52.] Geneva Conventions Act 1957 for the words " the Court of Criminal Appeal in Northern Ireland " substitute the words " the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland ".

[1968 c. 21.] The Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1968

In section 8 and in the succeeding provisions of the Act for the words " the Court of Criminal Appeal" wherever they occur substitute the words " the Court of Appeal ".

In section 14(1) for the words from " such court" to the end substitute the words " the Crown Court at such place as the Court of Appeal may direct or, if no such direction is given, at the place at which he was originally tried or such other place as the Crown Court may direct ".

In section 20(3) for the words " the Registrar " in the first place where they occur substitute the words " the Master (Queen's Bench and Appeals) (in this Act referred to as " the Master ")" and in the other place where they occur substitute the words " the Master ".

In section 23(4), 24(1) and (2), 25(1)(b), 25(3)(b), 27 and 48A(5) for the words " the Registrar " substitute the words " the Master ".

In section 32(2) for the words " allowed by the Court of Criminal Appeal" substitute the words " allowed by the Master (Taxing Office) ".

In section 34 for the words "a court of assize or a county court under section 57 of the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1950 " substitute the words " the Crown Court under section 76 of the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 ".

In section 36(1) at the end add the words " under Part II of this Act ".

In section 46(2)(b) for the words "the court of assize or county court" where they first occur substitute the words " the Crown Court ". In section 48 after paragraph (d) insert the following paragraph—

(e)the power to make an order under section 46(1) of this Act;

In section 49—

(a)in subsection (2) for the words " rules having effect by virtue of subsection (1) of this section " substitute the words " rules of court ";

(b)in subsection (3) for the words " No rule " substitute the words " No rule of court ".

In section 50—

(a)for the definition of " the Court of Appeal" substitute the following definitions—

  • " the Court" and " the Court of Appeal" mean Her Majesty's Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland;

  • " the Crown Court" means Her Majesty's Crown Court in Northern Ireland ;

(b)in the definition of " rules of court" for the words " section 7 of the Northern Ireland Act 1962 " substitute the words " section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1969 c. 46.] The Family Law Reform Act 1969

In section 6(7) for the words " or under any corresponding enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland substitute the words " or under section 27 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1969 c. 58.] The Administration of Justice Act 1969

In section 16(1) for the words from " sections 3 " to " 1877 " substitute the words " section 3 of the Judicature Act 1925 there shall be substituted a reference to sections 6 and 7 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

In sections 20(5) and 21(4) for the words " section 7 of the Northern Ireland Act 1962" substitute the words " section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1970 c. 9.] The Taxes Management Act 1970

In sections 58(2) and 59(5) for the words " section 1 of the Northern Ireland Act 1962 " substitute the words " section 42 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1970 c. 10.] The Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970

In section 413(6) for the words from " any such moneys" to " Northern Ireland)" substitute the words " money in the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland ".

[1970 c. 31.] The Administration of Justice Act 1970

In section 34(2) for the words "section 7 of the Northern Ireland Act 1962" substitute the words " section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1971 c. 38.] The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971

In paragraph 5(2) of Schedule 3 after the words " Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act 1925 " insert the words " , of section 67 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1971 c. 62.] The Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1971

In section 13(7)(a), (b) and (c), for the words " section 7 of the Northern Ireland Act 1962" substitute the words " section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 " and, in section 13(7)(a), for the words " section 24 of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Ireland) 1877 " substitute the words " section 35 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1973 c. 15.] The Administration of Justice Act 1973

In section 18(2)(a) for the words "to the Court of Criminal Appeal" substitute the words " from the Crown Court ".

[1975 c. 15.] The Social Security (Northern Ireland) Act 1975

In section 94(5) for the words " section 7 of the Northern Ireland Act 1962" substitute the words " section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1975 c. 24.] The House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975

In section 1(3) in the definition of " civil service of the Crown" after the words " Northern Ireland " insert the words " , the Northern Ireland Court Service ".

In Part I of Schedule 1 for the words from " or Temporary County Court Judge " to " deputy of such a Judge " substitute the words " or deputy County Court Judge in Northern Ireland ". In Part III of Schedule 1 the entry relating to an officer of or attached to the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland shall cease to have effect and at the appropriate place in alphabetical order insert—

  • Statutory officer appointed under section 70 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978..

[1975 c. 25.] The Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975

In section 1(2) in the definition of " civil service of the Crown " after the words " Northern Ireland " insert the words " , the Northern Ireland Court Service ".

In Part I of Schedule 1 for the words from " or Temporary County Court Judge " to " deputy of such a Judge " substitute the words " or deputy County Court Judge in Northern Ireland ".

In Part III of Schedule 1 the entry relating to an officer of or attached to the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland shall cease to have effect and at the appropriate place in alphabetical order insert—

  • Statutory officer appointed under section 70 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978..

[1978 c. 5.] The Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978

In sections 2(1)(a) and 3(1) for the words " of the Supreme Court" substitute the words " of the High Court or the Court of Appeal ".

For section 6 substitute—

6Court for trail of scheduled offences.

(1)A trial on indictment of a scheduled offence shall be held only at the Crown Court sitting in Belfast,

(2)A person committed for trial for a scheduled offence or two or more offences which are or include scheduled offences shall be committed to the Crown Court sitting in Belfast and section 48 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 shall have effect accordingly..

In section 7(6) for the words " Court of Criminal Appeal" where they twice occur substitute the words " Court of Appeal ".

In section 33(5) for the words from " shall" to the end of the subsection substitute the words " shall, if he was committed to the Crown Court sitting elsewhere than in Belfast, be treated as having been committed to the Crown Court sitting in Belfast ".

In section 33(7) for the words "the Belfast City Commission" substitute the words " the Crown Court sitting in Belfast ".

(2) Acts of the Irish Parliament and Parliament of Northern Ireland

[1781 c. 11 (Ir.).] The Habeas Corpus Act (Ireland) 1781

In section 2 for the words from " in the court of King's bench " to " case shall require " substitute the words " in the Crown Court ".

In section 8 for the words " judge of assize " substitute the words " judge of the Crown Court ".

[1929 c. 1 (N.I.).] The Bankruptcy Amendment Act (Northern Ireland) 1929

In section 21(1) for the words from the beginning to " providing " substitute the words " Rules of court may provide " and for the words from the end of paragraph (b) onwards substitute the words " and may provide for any matters for which provision may be necessary in order to give full effect to this section and prescribe anything which is to be prescribed thereunder ".

In section 28(1)—

(a)in the definition of " The court" for the words from " a judge " to the end substitute the words " the High Court ";

(b)in the definition of " Prescribed " for the words from " section sixty-one " to the end substitute the words " section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1929 c. 21 (N.I.).] The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act (Northern Ireland) 1929

In section 7(3) for the words from " such division or court of the Supreme Court" to the end substitute the words " the Court of Appeal and the decision of that Court shall be final ".

[1931 c. 12 (N.I.).] The Planning and Housing Act (Northern Ireland) 1931

In section 34(4) and (5) for the words " Supreme Court" wherever they occur substitute the words " Court of Appeal ".

In section 45(3) for the words "Supreme Court" substitute the words " High Court ".

[1939 c. 12 (N.I.).] The Evidence Act (Northern Ireland) 1939

In section 5(1) after the words " rules of court " insert the words " and county court rules ",

[1939 c. 13 (N.I.).] The Matrimonial Causes Act (Northern Ireland) 1939

In the long title and in section 1 for the words " Supreme Court " substitute the words " High Court ".

In section 4(1)(a) for sub-paragraph (i) substitute—

(i)an order of the High Court; or.

For section 27(2) substitute—

(2)Rules of court may be made under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 for prescribing anything which by this Act is to be prescribed.

In section 30(1) for the definition of " High Court " substitute—

  • " High Court " includes the Master (Probate and Matrimonial) exercising such jurisdiction of the court as may be prescribed in that behalf by rules made under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978.

In section 30(1) in the definition of " Presentation " for the words " Principal Probate Registry" substitute the words " Probate and Matrimonial Office ".

[1941 c. 9 (N.I.).] The Landlord and Tenant (war Damage) Act (Northern Ireland) 1941

For section 33(7) substitute—

(7)If any party to any proceedings in the county court under this Act is dissatisfied with the order, determination, direction or decision of the court he may appeal therefrom to the High Court.

In section 38(1) in the definition of " rules of court " for the words from " require " to the end substitute the words " require, rules under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978, ".

[1945 c. 15 (N.I.).] The Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945

In section 35(1) for the words "a court of assize or of quarter sessions" substitute the words " the Crown Court or a county court ".

In section 35(7) for the words " court of quarter sessions " substitute the words " county court ".

[1945 c. 16 (N.I.).] The Indictments Act (Northern Ireland) 1945

In section 3(2) for the words " the rules under this Act" substitute the words " Crown Court Rules ".

In section 8 for the words " rules under this Act" substitute the the words " Crown Court rules ".

[1950 c. 7 (N.I.).] The Probation Act (Northern Ireland) 1950

In sections 4(3)(b), 6(3)(b), 6(4), 6(6), 6(8) and 7(4) for the words " a court of assize or quarter sessions " wherever they occur substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In sections 4(3)(b), 4(4), 6(3)(b), 6(4) and 6(6) for the words " the court of assize or quarter sessions " wherever they occur substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In section 6(2)(a) for the words " a court of assize, a judge of the High " substitute the words " the Crown Court, a judge of that ". For section 6(2)(b) substitute—

(b)if the order was made by a county court judge on an appeal made to him under section 140, 141 or 142 of the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964, a county court judge acting for the division of the county court in which the order was made or a committing justice;.

In section 8(1)(a)(i) for the words " a court of assize or county court, to the Court of Criminal Appeal" substitute the words " the Crown Court, to the Court of Appeal ".

[1953 c. 18 (N.I.).] The Prison Act (Northern Ireland) 1953

In section 6 for the words " a court of assize or quarter sessions " substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

[1953 c. 19 (N.I.).] The Juries Act (Northern Ireland) 1953

For sections 1 and 2 substitute—

1Payments to be made in respect of jury service.

(1)Subject to the following provisions of this section, a person who serves as a juror shall be entitled, in respect of his attendance at court for the purpose of performing jury service, to receive payments, at rates determined by the Lord Chancellor with the consent of the Minister for the Civil Service and subject to any prescribed conditions, by way of allowance—

(a)for travelling and subsistence; and

(b)for financial loss, where in consequence of his attendance for that purpose he has incurred any expenditure (otherwise than on travelling and subsistence) to which he would not otherwise be subject or he has suffered any loss of earnings, or of benefit under the enactments relating to national insurance and social security, which he would otherwise have made or received.

(2)Subsection (1) shall apply to service on a coroner's jury.

(3)The determination of the amounts payable to persons under subsection (1) and the manner of making those payments shall be in accordance with arrangements made by the Lord Chancellor and all such payments shall be made out of moneys provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

(4)In subsection (1) ' prescribed' means prescribed by regulations made by the Lord Chancellor with the consent of the Minister for the Civil Service ; and for the purposes of that subsection a person who, in obedience to a summons to serve on a jury, attends for service as a juror shall be deemed to serve as a juror notwithstanding that he is not subsequently sworn.

(5)No person shall be entitled under any Act other than this Act or under any rule of law, custom or agreement to payment for his service as a juror."..

[1954 c. 9 (N.I.).] The Administration of Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1954

For section 11 substitute—

11Local custody and control of courthouse accommodation.

The Lord Chancellor may give directions as to the local custody and control of any courthouse accommodation provided or maintained under this Act..

In section 14(1) for the words from the beginning to " on behalf of the Ministry " substitute the words " The Lord Chancellor " and for the word "Ministry" where it twice occurs substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ".

[1954 c. 33 (N.I.).] The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954

In section 21—

(a)in subsection (2) for the words " Ministry of Finance" substitute the word " Treasury ";

(b)for subsection (4) substitute—

(4)In any enactment—

  • " rules of court " shall mean rules of court made, or having effect as if made, under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ;

  • " Crown Court rules " shall mean rules made under section 52 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978.;

(c)in subsection (6) after paragraph (a) insert—

(aa)in relation to the Crown Court, references to Crown Court rules ;.

In section 42—

(a)in subsection (1) for the definition of " county court" substitute—

  • " Crown Court" shall mean Her Majesty's Crown Court in Northern Ireland ;

  • " county court " shall mean a county court held for a division under the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959;;

(b)in subsection (3) for the definition of "Probate Judge" substitute—

  • " Probate Judge " shall mean the Judge of the High Court to whom probate business and matters are for the time being assigned..

[1958 c. 23 (N.I.).] The Trustee Act (Northern Ireland) 1958

In sections 35(9) and 57(4) for the words " Lord Chief Justice or Registrar in Lunacy" substitute the words " High Court or the Master (Care and Protection) ".

In section 67 omit the definition of " pay " and at the end of section 66 add—

(3)Any reference in this Act to paying money or securities into court shall be construed as referring to paying the money or transferring or depositing the securities into or in the Supreme Court or into or in the county court that has jurisdiction, and any reference in this Act to payment of money or securities into court shall be construed—

(a)with reference to an order of the High Court, as referring to payment of the money or transfer or deposit of the securities into or in the Supreme Court; and

(b)with reference to an order of a county court, as referring to payment of the money or transfer or deposit of the securities into or in that court..

[1959 c. 15 (N.I.).] The Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959

In section 1, for the words from the beginning to " responsible " substitute the words " The Lord Chancellor shall be responsible ".

In section 2(1) for the words from the beginning to "may appoint " substitute the words " The Lord Chancellor may appoint " and for the words from " the Minister, after " to the end substitute the words " the Lord Chancellor, after consultation with the Treasury, may determine and may also, in exercise of his powers under section 69 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978, appoint coroner's officers and other officers to assist such coroners ".

In sections 2(2) and 3 for the word " Minister" substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ".

In section 2(3) for the words from " is a barrister-at-law " to the end substitute the words " has practised for not less than five years either as a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland or as a solicitor of the Supreme Court ".

In section 5 for the words from " moneys " to the end substitute the words " moneys provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom ".

In section 6(2) for the word " Minister " where it twice occurs substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ".

In sections 11(3), 26 and 27(2) for the word " Ministry " wherever it occurs substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ". In section 36(1) for the words from the beginning to the end of paragraph (a) substitute—

(1)The Lord Chancellor may by rules—

(a)made after consultation with the Treasury, make provision with respect to the records, accounts and returns which the Lord Chancellor may require coroners to keep and submit to him and with respect to information to be supplied by coroners ;.

For section 36(2) substitute—

(2)The Lord Chancellor may with the consent of the Minister for the Civil Service determine—

(a)the salaries or fees and superannuation to be paid to coroners and to registered medical practitioners employed under section 27(2);

(b)the fees and allowances payable to persons assisting at post-mortem examinations ;

(c)the allowances payable to witnesses under this Act..

[1959 c. 25 (N.I.).] The County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959

In section 3(1) after the word " shall" insert the words " except where the Lord Chancellor otherwise directs ".

For section 5 substitute—

5Additional and extraordinary sittings.

(1)The Lord Chancellor may, where he considers it expedient to do so for the purpose of avoiding extra- delay in the administration of justice, give directions for the holding of sittings of the county court in addition to the ordinary sittings fixed under this Act.

(2)Subject to county court rules and to any directions given by the Lord Chancellor under section 2 or subsection (1), a judge may, in addition to the ordinary sittings, sit at any other time or times for the hearing of any proceedings where he is satisfied that such additional sitting is necessary or expedient for the doing of justice between the parties..

In section 6(2) for the words from " from hearing " to the end substitute the words " or circuit registrar from hearing and determining any civil action which he is authorised by any enactment or by county court rules to hear and determine ".

In section 6(4)(a) for the words " for which he acts as judge " substitute the words " to which he is assigned under section 102 ".

In section 33(3)(a) for the words "Registrar of the Supreme Court " substitute the words " Master (Queen's Bench and Appeals) ".

In section 36 for the words from " tried " to the end substitute the words " tried at some other place in the same division or in any other division, he may order those proceedings to be transferred to a court sitting at such other place, and they shall be heard and determined by that court accordingly ".

In section 38 for the words " section sixteen of the Summary Jurisdiction Act (Northern Ireland) 1953 " substitute the words " section 85 of the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 ".

In section 55 in subsection (1) for the words " under rule (3) of section twenty-seven of the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Ireland) 1877 " substitute the words " to a third or subsequent party or to a defendant seeking contribution or indemnity ".

For section 63 substitute—

63Interest.

In determining for the purposes of any provision of this Act whether an amount exceeds, or is less than, a sum specified in that provision, no account shall be taken of the power exercisable by virtue of section 17 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1937 (interest on debts and damages) or of any order made in the exercise of such power..

In section 71(3) at the end add the words " or by a circuit registrar ".

In section 105—

(a)for subsection (1) substitute—

(1)Subject to subsection (1A), the Lord Chancellor may, if he thinks fit, remove a judge from office on the ground of incapacity or misbehaviour.

(1A)Subsection (1) shall not apply to a judge holding office immediately before 1st January 1974 but—

(a)subject to paragraph (b), every such judge shall hold office during good behaviour subject to a power of removal by Her Majesty on an address presented to Her Majesty by both Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom ;

(b)where the Lord Chancellor is satisfied that by reason of infirmity of mind or body any such judge is incapable of discharging the duties of his office, and that the incapacity is likely to be permanent, he may, upon hearing any representations made by or on behalf of the judge, remove him from office.;

(b)in subsection (4) for the words " and (2)" substitute the words " and (1A) ". For section 106 substitute—

106Salaries and allowances of judges.

(1)There shall be paid to each judge such salary as may be determined by the Lord Chancellor with the consent of the Minister for the Civil Service.

(2)The salary payable to any judge shall begin from the date on which the judge takes the oaths required by section 105(3).

(3)The Lord Chancellor with the approval of the Minister for the Civil Service may allow to any judge, for the purpose of defraying his travelling and subsistence expenses, such sum as appears reasonable..

In section 114—

(a)in subsection (1) for the words " county court rules " substitute the words " directions given by the Lord Chancellor ";

(b)in subsection (2) for the words from "by the Ministry" to the end substitute the words " by the Lord Chancellor with the approval of the Minister for the Civil Service ".

In section 116—

(a)for the words " Ministry of Finance" wherever they occur substitute the words " Minister for the Civil Service ";

(b)for the word "Minister" wherever it occurs substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ";

(c)for the word " Governor " in subsection (4) substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ".

In sections 123(2), 125(3) and 126, for the words "Ministry of Finance " wherever they occur substitute the words " Minister for the Civil Service ".

In section 132 for the word " Ministry" substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ".

For section 134 substitute—

134Evidence of health.

Before recommending any person to Her Majesty of health, for appointment as a county court judge, the Lord Chancellor shall take steps to satisfy himself that that person's health is satisfactory..

In section 136 for the words from the beginning to the beginning of paragraph (a) substitute the words " There shall be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom ".

and for the words " Ministry of Finance" substitute the word " Treasury ".

In section 137 for the words from "provided by" to "all expenses " substitute the words " provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom all expenses ".

In section 142(1) for the words from "the clerk of the Crown and peace " to the end substitute the words " a circuit registrar, a commissioner for oaths, a justice of the peace or any officer of the court designated for the purpose by the Lord Chancellor ".

In section 144 for the word "Ministry" where it twice occurs substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ".

In section 145(1) for the words " the prescribed officer" substitute the words " an officer of the court designated by the Lord Chancellor ".

In section 146—

(a)in subsections (2) and (6) for the word "Minister" substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ";

(b)for subsection (3) substitute—

(3)For the purposes of or in relation to any jurisdiction exercisable by county courts, any such rules and orders as are referred to in section 21(1) and (2) of the Interpretation Act or section 147 of this Act may—

(a)be made by the Rules Committee in accordance with the following provisions of this section ; and

(b)be known respectively as " county court rules " and " county court orders ".;

(c)in subsection (7) for the word " Ministry " substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ";

(d)for subsection (10) substitute—

(10)County court rules and county court orders made by the Rules Committee shall—

(a)be certified under the hand of the members of the Rules Committee, or any three or more of them ; and

(b)when certified under paragraph (a), be submitted to the Lord Chancellor who, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, may allow, disallow or alter them.

(11)County court rules and county court orders made by the Rules Committee, as allowed or altered by the Lord Chancellor, shall come into operation on such date as the Lord Chancellor may direct..

In section 147—

(a)for the words " make recommendations to the Minister with respect" substitute the words " make county court rules and county court orders with respect ";

(b)at the end of paragraph (b)(ii) add the words " or by a circuit registrar. ".

In section 152(1) in the definition of " judge " for the words " for a division under this Act" substitute the words " under section 102 ".

In Part III of Schedule 2—

(a)in paragraph 1, for the words from "provided by" to the end substitute the words " provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom ";

(b)in paragraph 2, for the words from " payable" to " derivative " substitute the words " payable out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, the derivative ";

(c)in paragraph 3(1) for the words from " paid into " to the end substitute the words " paid into the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom ";

(d)in paragraph 3(2) for the words from " payments out" to " will secure " substitute the words " payments out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom or out of moneys provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom and payments into the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom as will secure ".

[1960 c. 2 (N.I.).] The Resident Magistrates' Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 1960

In section 1 for the words from " on attaining the age of seventy years " to the end substitute the words " at the end of the completed year of service in which he attains the age of seventy ; but where the Lord Chancellor considers it desirable in the public interest to retain him in office after that time, the Lord Chancellor may from time to time authorise him to continue in office up to such age, not exceeding seventy-two, as the Lord Chancellor thinks fit ".

[1960 c. 22 (N.I.).] The Companies Act (Northern Ireland) 1960

In section 349(9) for the words from the beginning to " Bankruptcy Acts " substitute the words " Subject to such modifications as may be made by rules of court, the Bankruptcy Acts ".

In section 389(1) and (3), for the words " a judge of the Supreme Court " substitute the words " the High Court ".

[1961 c. 15 (N.I.).] The Mental Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1961

In section 1(1)(f)—

(a)for the words "the Department for the Affairs of Mental Patients" substitute the words " the Office of Care and Protection " and for the words " the said Department" (in sub-paragraph (iii)) substitute the words " the said Office ";

(b)for sub-paragraph (i) substitute—

(i)as the High Court may require for the exercise of its jurisdiction under section 28 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978..

In section 25 for the words " the Registrar of the Department for the Affairs of Mental Patients " substitute the words " the Master (Care and Protection) ".

In section 45 for the words " Lord Chief Justice, the Registrar of the Department for the Affairs of Mental Patients " substitute the words " High Court, the Master (Care and Protection) ".

In sections 48(1) and 59(2)(c), for the words " a court of assize or a county court" substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In section 55(1) for the words " a county court or a court of assize " substitute the words " or the Crown Court ".

In section 56(6) for the words " at the next county court or, as the case may be, court of assize for " substitute the words " by the Crown Court at ".

In section 59(2)(a) and (b) and 63(2) for the words "a court of assize or the county court " substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In section 69(1)(d) for the words " the Lord Chief Justice " where first occurring substitute the words " the High Court " and for the words " the Lord Chief Justice to exercise his functions and for the tribunal " substitute the word " them ".

In section 73(1) and 74 for the words " the Department for the Affairs of Mental Patients " substitute the words " the Office of Care and Protection ".

In section 74 for the words " the Lord Chief Justice " substitute the words " rules of court ".

In section 79(4) for the words "Supreme Court", wherever occurring, substitute the words " Court of Appeal ".

In section 87(1)—

(a)for the words " the Lord Chief Justice " where first occurring substitute the words " the High Court ";

(b)for the words " the Department for the Affairs of Mental Patients" substitute the words " the Office of Care and Protection " and for the words " the said Department" (in paragraph (d)) substitute the words " the said Office ";

(c)for paragraph (a) substitute—

(a)as the High Court may require for the exercise of its jurisdiction under section 28 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978.

In section 87(2) for the words " Lord Chief Justice " where first occurring substitute the words " High Court " and for the words " the Lord Chief Justice to exercise his functions, or as the case may be, for the tribunal " substitute the word " them ".

In section 101(8)(a) for the words " Lord Chief Justice " substitute the words " High Court ".

In section 111(2) for the words "the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court" substitute the words " a judge of the High Court, who ".

In section 117(2) for the words from " the Lord Chief Justice " to " enactment " substitute the words " the High Court under section 28 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1962 c. 14 (N.I.).] The Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962

For section 72(2) substitute—

(2)An election court for the trial of petitions relating to parliamentary elections (in this Act referred to as a " parliamentary election court") shall consist of the two judges of the High Court or the Court of Appeal for the time being selected under section 108 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978..

In section 83(2), (3) and (4) for the words "Supreme Court" substitute the words " Court of Appeal ".

In paragraph 17(2) of Schedule 3, for the words " Supreme Court " substitute the words " Court of Appeal ".

[1964 c. 3 (N.I.).] The County Court Appeals Act (Northern Ireland) 1964

In section 1 for subsections (3) to (6) substitute—

(3)The appeal shall lie to the High Court and the decision of the High Court shall, except as provided by section 3, be final..

In sections 2(3) and 8(1) for the words " Registrar of the Supreme Court " substitute the words " Master (Queen's Bench and Appeals) ".

In section 2(7) for the words " the Administration of Justice Act 1960" substitute the words " section 41 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

In section 8(2) for the words " section 7 of the Northern Ireland Act 1962" substitute the words " section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1964 c. 21 (N.I.).] The Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964

For section 3 substitute—

3Justices of the peace.

Justices of the peace shall be appointed in accordance with section 103 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

In section 6(1) for the words from " member of " to the end substitute the words " member of the Northern Ireland Court Service, notary public or commissioner for oaths ".

In section 7 for the words from the beginning to " shall" substitute the words " A person appointed as a justice of the peace shall, except where he has already done so in connection with a former appointment, ".

In section 10(1) for the word " Governor" wherever it occurs substitute the words " Lord Chancellor " and for the words " being eligible for appointment as resident magistrates " substitute the words " being persons who are eligible for appointment as, or have previously been, resident magistrates ".

For section 11 substitute—

11Removal of resident magistrates from office.

(1)Subject to subsection (2) and to section 1 of the Resident Magistrates' Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 1960, every resident magistrate shall hold his office during good behaviour, but may be removed from his office by the Lord Chancellor on the ground of incapacity or misbehaviour.

(2)Subsection (1) shall not apply to a resident magistrate holding office immediately before 1st January 1974 but, subject to section 1 of the Resident Magistrates' Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 1960, every such resident magistrate shall hold office during good behaviour subject to a power of removal by Her Majesty on an address presented to Her Majesty by both Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom..

In section 12(1) for the words from the beginning to " the salaries " substitute the words " The Lord Chancellor may, with the consent of the Minister for the Civil Service, determine the salaries ".

In section 14(1) for the words " or county borough " wherever they occur substitute the words " court division ".

In section 18(1), for the words "apply to the High Court for" substitute the words " make an application for judicial review to the High Court seeking ".

In section 20 for the word " Ministry" where it twice occurs substitute the words " Lord Chancellor " and for the words " Ministry of Finance " substitute the word " Treasury ".

In section 22 for the word " Ministry " substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ".

In section 23—

(a)for the word " Minister " wherever it occurs substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ";

(b)in subsection (2) for the words from " the majority " to the end substitute the words " shall include at least two resident magistrates, one practising barrister and one practising solicitor ";

(c)in subsection (4) for the words from " by the Minister" to the end substitute the words " by the Lord Chancellor on the advice of or after consultation with the Rules Committee and after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice ".

In section 24 for the word " Minister " substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ".

In section 25(1) for the word " Ministry" substitute the words " Secretary of State " and in section 25(2) for the word " Minister " substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ".

For section 30 substitute—

30Clerks of Petty sessions.

References in this Act to clerks of petty sessions are references to the persons appointed as such by the Lord Chancellor in the exercise of his power under section 69 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 and include references to persons appointed under that power as assistant or deputy clerks of petty sessions.".

In section 31(1), 35(1) and (2) for the words " or county borough " wherever they occur substitute the words " court division ".

In section 32(1), (3) and (4) for the words " local jurisdictions " and " jurisdictions" wherever they occur substitute the words " county court divisions " and in section 32(2) for the words " local jurisdiction " substitute the words " county court division ".

In section 44(3), for the words " court of assize or county court" substitute the words " Crown Court ".

In section 46 for the word " Governor" substitute the words " Secretary of State ".

In section 54(1)(a) for the words " or county borough " substitute the words " court division ".

In section 58(3) for the words " a county court or court of assize " substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In section 59(1) for the word " county" substitute the words " county court division ".

In section 87(3) and 89 for the words " or county borough" wherever they occur substitute the words " court division ".

In section 95 for the word " Ministry " wherever it occurs substitute the words " Lord Chancellor " and in subsection (8) for the words in brackets substitute the words " (other than a member of the Northern Ireland Court Service) ".

In section 110(1)(b) for the word "county" substitute the words " county court division ".

In section 138(1) for the words " a court of assize " substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In section 142(2) for the words from " section 13 " to " to that Act" substitute the words " section 44 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

In section 147(2) for the words " the Administration of Justice Act 1960," substitute the words " section 41 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

In section 150(1) and (2) for the words from " to the clerk of petty sessions " to the end substitute, in each case, the words " to such member of the Northern Ireland Court Service as the Lord Chancellor may designate and such person shall forthwith give notice to the other party to the appeal ".

In section 152(2) for the words from " paid into " to " so, however " substitute the words " paid into the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom so, however ".

In section 160 for the words " section 16 of the Administration of Justice Act 1960 " substitute the words " section 25 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

For section 168, substitute—

168Expenses.

(1)Any expenses incurred by the Lord Chancellor in performing his functions under this Act or any increase in the expenses of the Lord Chancellor in defraying any sums authorised by this Act to be paid, or which are attributable to the performance of any function conferred by this Act, shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

(2)There shall be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom the salaries payable to resident magistrates under this Act or the Resident Magistrates (Belfast) Act 1911.

(3)Any expenses incurred by or in connection with the Rules Committee shall be defrayed as part of the expenses incurred by the Lord Chancellor in performing his functions under this Act..

In section 169 after the definition of " complainant " insert—

  • ' county court division ' means a division specified under section 1(1) of the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959;

In Schedule 5 in paragraph 1 for the words " a court of assize or to a county court, as the case may be," substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

[1964 c. 29 (N.I.).] The Lands Tribunal and Compensation Act (Northern Ireland) 1964

In section 2—

(a)in subsection (1) for the words " subsection (4) " substitute the words " subsections (4) and (4A) "; and

(b)after subsection (4) insert—

(4A)Without prejudice to subsection (4), a member of the Lands Tribunal holding office immediately before 1st January 1974 may be removed from office by Her Majesty upon an address presented to Her Majesty by both Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom..

[1964 c. 33 (N.I.).] The Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 1964

In section 30(1) for the words " The chief registrar of the Principal Probate Registry of the High Court " substitute the words " The Master (Probate and Matrimonial) " and for the words from "that Registry " to the end substitute the words " the Probate and Matrimonial Office, or of which a copy has been forwarded to him from a branch office of that Office. ".

[1965 c. 8 (N.I.).] The Legal Aid and Advice Act (Northern Ireland) 1965

In section 21(5) for the words " a county court or court of assize " wherever they occur substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In sections 27(2) and 29(3)(b) for the words " a court of assize or a county court" substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

For paragraph 1(c) of Schedule 1 Part I substitute—

(c)the High Court and the Court of Appeal;.

In paragraphs 1(1) and 2(1) of Schedule 3 for the words "the Supreme Court" substitute the words " the High Court or the Court of Appeal ".

[1966 c. 35 (N.I.).] The Maintenance and Affiliation Orders Act (Northern Ireland) 1966

In section 10(2) after paragraph (e) insert—

(f)section 27 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978.

[1967 c. 31 (N.I.).] The Building Societies Act (Northern Ireland) 1967

In section 98(1) for the words " Supreme Court" substitute the words " Court of Appeal ".

[1968 c. 10 (N.I.).] The Costs in Criminal Cases Act (Northern Ireland) 1968

In section 4 for the words " Court of Criminal Appeal" wherever they occur substitute the words " Court of Appeal ".

For section 7 substitute—

7Rules relating to cost.

Rules of court, Crown Court rules, county court rules and magistrates’ courts rules may provide for the rates or scales of payment of costs under sections 2 to 5 in so far as those sections relate to costs in the Court of Appeal, the Crown Court, county courts and magistrates' courts respectively..

[1968 c. 29 (N.I.).] The Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) 1968

In sections 19(4), 20(3), 21(3), 25 and 29(1) for the words " a court of assize or county court" wherever they occur substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In section 19(4) for the words " the judge of the court of assize or county court, as the case may be " substitute the words " the judge of the Crown Court ".

In section 20(1) for the words from "any court of assize" to " brought or " substitute the words " the Crown Court or ".

In section 20(5) for the words " sentenced or ordered to be detained" substitute the word " tried ".

In section 21(1) for the words " or county borough " substitute the words " court division ".

In section 21(2) for the words " High Court judge or a county court judge " substitute the words " judge of the Crown Court ".

In section 25(3) for the words " assizes or county court" substitute the words " Crown Court " and for the words " the court of assize or county court" wherever they occur substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

[1968 c. 34 (N.I.).] The Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968

In section 65(2) for the words from the beginning to " to be held " substitute the words " Directions given by the Lord Chancellor under section 21(3) of the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 ".

In sections 67(b) and 101(3) after the word " county " insert the words " court division ".

In section 76(6)(b) for the words " a court of assize or a county court, to the Court of Criminal Appeal" substitute the words " the Crown Court, to the Court of Appeal ".

In section 79(2) for the words " court of assize or the county court, as the case may be, at which the case will be tried, if tried by a jury " substitute the words " place at which the Crown Court, at which the case will be tried if tried by a jury, may sit ".

In sections 136(4) and 178(4) and in paragraphs 1(1) and 3(2) of Schedule 2 for the words " or county borough " and " and county borough " wherever they occur substitute the words " court division ".

In section 156(7) for the words " a county court or a court of assize " substitute the words " the Crown Court " and for the words "in the county or county court division in which the court of assize or county court was held when it made the contribution order " substitute the words " in Northern Ireland ".

In section 178, as originally enacted, for the word " Ministry" where it twice occurs substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ".

In Schedule 2—

(a)in paragraph 1(2) for the word "Governor" substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ";

(b)in paragraphs 1(3) and 8 for the word " Ministry " wherever it occurs substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ";

(c)at the end of paragraph 1(4) add the words " by regulations made under paragraph 8 ";

(d)in paragraph 2(2) for the words from " who " to the end substitute the words " who has taken the said oaths after a previous appointment as a member of any such panel or who has taken the said oaths as required by section 7 of the Magistrates Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 ";

(e)in paragraph 6 for the words " The Ministry may pay " substitute the words " The Lord Chancellor may, out of money provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, pay " and for the words from " Ministry may determine " to the end substitute the words " Lord Chancellor may, with the approval of the Minister for the Civil Service determine ";

(f)at the end of paragraph 8 add—

(d)be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament in like manner as a statutory instrument and section 5 of the Statutory Instrument Act 1946 shall apply accordingly..

[1969 c. 15 (N.I.).] The Grand Jury (Abolition) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969

In section 2(1) for the words " a court of assize or to a county court" substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In section 2(2)(c) for the words " Court of Criminal Appeal" substitute the words " Court of Appeal ".

In section 2(2)(e) for the words " Supreme Court or a county court judge " substitute the words " High Court, Court of Appeal or Crown Court ".

In section 2(3) for the words " a court of assize or a county court " substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

[1969 c. 30 (N.I.).] The Judgments (Enforcement) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969

In section 1 for subsection (3) substitute—

(3)Without prejudice to subsection (2), the Lord Chancellor may by order apply this Act, with such modifications as the circumstances may require, to any judgment or award of any court or tribunal given or made or having effect or capable of being made effective in Northern Ireland.

(4)An order under subsection (3) shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament in like manner as a statutory instrument and section 5 of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply accordingly..

For section 3 substitute—

3The Enforcement of Judgments Office.

(1)The Lord Chancellor shall maintain within the Northern Ireland Court Service an office to be called the Enforcement of Judgments Office (in this Act referred to as " the Office ") by or through which, subject to the provisions of this Act, all judgments to which this Act applies shall be enforced.

(2)The functions of the Office shall, subject to and in accordance with rules and with directions given by the Lord Chancellor, be exercisable by—

(a)the Master ;

(b)a Judicial Officer ; and

(c)the Chief Enforcement Officer or any other member of the Northern Ireland Court Service.

(3)In this section and in the following provisions of this Act—

(a)" the Master " and "Judicial Officer " mean, respectively, the Master (Enforcement of Judgments) and a Judicial Officer (Enforcement of Judgments) appointed under section 70 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ;

(b)" the Chief Enforcement Officer " means such officer of the Northern Ireland Court Service as the Lord Chancellor may designate for the purposes of this Act.

In section 12 for the words " be deemed to be court records " substitute the words " be preserved in such manner and for such period as the Lord Chancellor may direct ".

In sections 14(1)(b), 22, 23, 24, 25, 29 and 95 for the words " a designated officer" wherever they occur subsitute the words "the Office ". In sections 19(1), 22(a), 26(1), 34(b), 40, 97 and 108(2) for the word " regulations " wherever it occurs substitute the word " rules ".

In section 40(3) for the words " fees in accordance with a schedule of fees " substitute the word " charges ".

In section 105 at the beginning of paragraph (c) insert the words " except as provided by rules ".

In section 116(2) for the words "a judge of the High Court" substitute the words " the Court of Appeal ".

For section 117 substitute—

117Judgment Enforcement Rules.

(1)The Lord Chancellor may make rules, to be known as “Judgment Enforcement Rules " for the purpose of regulating the exercise of the jurisdiction conferred on the Office by this Act or on the Master by the Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 and generally for carrying both Acts into effect.

(2)Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) Judgment Enforcement Rules may—

(a)provide for regulating and prescribing the procedure and practice to be followed in proceedings before the Office, including the manner in which, the time within which and the conditions on which any proceedings may or are to be taken;

(b)provide for regulating any matters relating to the costs of proceedings before the Office;

(c)make provision as to proceedings by the Crown;

(d)prescribe or fix anything which under this Act may or is to be so prescribed or fixed ;

(e)amend or repeal any statutory provision passed before the commencement of this Act so far as may be necessary or expedient in consequence of provisions made by the rules.

(3)Judgment Enforcement Rules shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament in like manner as a statutory instrument and section 5 of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946 shall apply accordingly.

(4)Judgment Enforcement Rules which may involve an increase in expenditure out of public funds shall not be made except with the concurrence of the Treasury; but the validity of any rules so made shall not, in any proceedings in any court or in the Office, be called in question either by the court, the Office or any party to the proceedings on the ground only that the Treasury did not concur or are not expressed to have concurred in the making of the rule..

For section 120 substitute—

120Financial provision.

All expenses of and incidental to the operation of this Act shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by the Parliament of the United Kingdom..

In section 128(1) for the words " and any rules of court, rules or regulations made thereunder" substitute the words " , rules made thereunder and rules of court ".

In section 129(1)—

(a)in the definition of " enforcement officer " for the words from " senior " to the end substitute the words " other officers of the Northern Ireland Court Service designated by the Lord Chancellor for the purposes of this Act ";

(b)in the definition of " the Master" for the words " section 5(2) " substitute the words " section 3(3)(a) ";

(c)in the definition of " rules " - for the words from " rules made " to the end substitute the words " Judgment Enforcement Rules made under section 117 ".

In Part II of Schedule 4 in the amendment to the [1857 c. 60.] Irish Bankrupt and Insolvent Act 1857 for the word "regulations" substitute the word " rules ".

[1970 c. 11 (N.I.).] The Nurses and Midwives Act (Northern Ireland) 1970

In section 46(3) for the words " The Attendance of Witnesses Act 1854 " substitute the words " Section 67 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[1970 c. 25 (N.I.).] The Registration of Deeds Act (Northern Ireland) 1970

In section 3(7) for the words " Supreme Court" substitute the words " High Court or the Court of Appeal ".

[1971 c. 7 (N.I.).] The Leasehold (Enlargement and Extension) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971

In sections 5(4) and 11(4) for the words " Registrar of the Department for the Affairs of Patients (Northern Ireland)" substitute the words " Master (Care and Protection) ".

In section 5(7) for the words " the Lord Chief Justice " wherever occurring substitute the words " the High Court ".

[1971 c. 13 (N.I.).] The Licensing Act (Northern Ireland) 1971

In sections 27(2) and 68(1) for the words " or county borough " substitute the words " court division ".

[1971 c. 30 (N.I.).] The Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971

In section 3 for the words " rules made under section 13 " substitute the words " Judgment Enforcement Rules ".

In section 9(3) for the words " a Judge of the High Court" substitute the words " the Court of Appeal ".

In section 9(4) for the words " Judge of the High Court " substitute the words " High Court or the Court of Appeal ".

In section 16(1)—

(a)in the definition of " appropriate authority for the words " Minister of Home Affairs " substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ";

(b)in the definition of " Master " for the words " for the enforcement of judgments " substitute the words " (Enforcement of Judgments) " and for the words " designated officer" substitute the words " Judicial Officer (Enforcement of Judgments) ".

(3) Orders in Council

[S.I. 1949/1836.] The Northern Ireland (Crown Proceedings) Order 1949

In Article 3(3) for the words from the beginning to " 1897 " substitute the words " The expression ' rules of court' shall mean rules made under section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

[S.I. 1972/538 (N.I. 1).] The Prosecution of Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 1972

In Article 4(10)(a), before the words " any county court or " insert the words " the Crown Court or in ".

In Article 5(1)(g) for the words " certiorari, mandamus, prohibition or other prerogative order or injunction" substitute the words " judicial review ".

[S.I. 1972/1265 (N.I. 14).] The Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972

In paragraph 4 of Schedule 11 Part I, for the words " Supreme Court" substitute the words " Court of Appeal ".

[S.I. 1974/2143 (N.I. 6).] The Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1974

In Article 2(2) for the definition of " the Juries Officer " substitute the following definitions—

  • " division " means a county court division within the meaning of the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 ;

  • " the Juries Officer " in relation to a division means such officer of the Northern Ireland Court Service as the Lord Chancellor may designate to be the Juries Officer for that division.

In Article 4(2) for the words from the beginning to " area who " substitute the words "The Chief Electoral Officer shall arrange to be sent to the Juries Officer for each division a list of those persons selected who reside in the division and the Juries Officer

In Article 4(3)(b), (6) (where it first occurs) and (9)(c) and Article 5(3) for the word " area " substitute the word " division ".

In Article 4(4) and (5) for the words " Area Provisional Jurors List" substitute the words " list referred to in paragraph (2) ".

In Articles 4(5), (6) and (7) and 5(3) and (4) for the word " Area " wherever it occurs substitute the word " Divisional ".

In Schedule 2—

(a)at the end of the entry relating to officers of the Northern Ireland Office add the words " and officers of the Lord Chancellor's Office certified by the Lord Chancellor to be so engaged ".

(b)after that entry insert—

  • Members of the Northern Ireland Court Service.;

(c)after the entry relating to members and staff of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland insert—

  • Members and staff of the Police Complaints Board for Northern Ireland;

(d)after the entry relating to persons in the Northern Ireland Civil Service insert—

  • The Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland and persons appointed to assist him..

[S.I. 1975/816 (N.I. 7).] The Administration of Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1975

In Article 8(2) for the words " Secretary of State, on the recommendation of" substitute the words " Lord Chancellor, after consultation with " and for the words " Secretary of State " substitute the words " Lord Chancellor ".

[S.I. 1976/226 (N.I. 4).] The Treatment of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1976

In Articles 2(3), 5(3)(a), 9(3)(b), 9(5), 9(7), 10(2)(b), 10(3), 14(6), 15(1) and 15(3) for the words " a court of assize or county court " wherever they occur substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In Article 3(4) for the words " a court of assize or a county court " substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In Article 3(5) for the words " to a court under paragraph (4), that court" substitute the words " under paragraph (4), the Crown Court ".

In Article 5(1)(b) for the words " or county borough " substitute the words " court division ".

In Article 5(3)(b) for the words "the court referred to in sub-paragraph (a)" substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In Article 5(4) for the words " such court of assize or county court as it considers convenient" substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In Articles 9(3)(b), 9(4), 10(2) and 10(3) for the words " the court of assize or county court, as the case may be " wherever they occur substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In Article 9(4) for the words " that court of assize or county court" substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In Article 14(1) for the words " a court of assize, a county court" substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

In Article 15(3) for the words " the court of assize or county court" substitute the words " the Crown Court " and for the words " the court of assize or county court, as the case may be " substitute the words " that court ".

[S.I. 1976/582 (N.I. 12).] The Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976

In Articles 15(1), 37(2), 64(1)(a) and 64(2), for the words " Supreme Court" substitute the words " High Court or the Court of Appeal ".

In Article 75(3) for the words " section 7 of the Northern Ireland Act 1962" substitute " section 55 of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 ".

In Article 81(a) for the words " the Court of Criminal Appeal" substitute the words " the Crown Court ".

[S.I. 1978/460 (N.I. 5).] The Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 1978

In Articles 6(2) and 8(3) for the words " county court or of the High Court " substitute the words " Crown Court ".

In Articles 6(4) and 7(2) for the words " Court of Criminal Appeal" wherever they occur substitute the words " Court of Appeal ".

Section 122(1).

SCHEDULE 6Transitional Provisions

PART IGeneral

1(1)Proceedings instituted or being carried on heretofore in a court mentioned in the first column of the Table below or in or before any division, judge, office or officer of any such court may hereafter be continued and determined before the court specified opposite such court in the second column of that Table or in or before the appropriate division, judge, office or officer of that court; and any order, writ, summons, warrant, recognizance, notice, grant of legal aid, process, proceeding or document relating to or affecting such proceedings shall have effect accordingly.

(2)Nothing in sub-paragraph (1) affects the power of any court mentioned in the second column of the Table below to make any order in the proceedings which it is otherwise authorised to make.

TABLE

First columnSecond column
1. The Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland.The Supreme Court.
2. Her Majesty's Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland.The Court of Appeal.
3. The Court of Criminal Appeal in Northern Ireland.The Court of Appeal.
4. Her Majesty's High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland sitting otherwise than as a court of assize.The High Court.

2Any order or appointment made, direction or authority given or thing done which—

(a)was heretofore in force with respect to any property under the control or management of the Lord Chief Justice or the High Court or any division, judge, office or officer thereof; and

(b)could have been made, given or done under any provision of this Act if that provision had been in force at the material time;

shall continue to have effect as if made, given or done under that provision.

3Every rule of court made or deemed to have been made under section 7 of the [1962 c. 32.] Northern Ireland Act 1962 and not revoked before the commencement of section 55 shall have effect as if made under that section and may be varied or revoked accordingly.

4General orders made by the Lord Chief Justice under section 118 of the [1871 c. 22.] Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871 which were in force immediately before the commencement of section 28 shall be deemed to be rules of court and shall continue in force until amended or revoked by such rules.

5All forms and methods of civil and criminal procedure and practice which were heretofore in force in the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland, the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland or the Court of Criminal Appeal, and which are not inconsistent with this Act or with the rules of court, may continue to be used in the High Court and the Court of Appeal in the cases and for the purposes in and for which they were used heretofore but with such modifications as may appear necessary in consequence of this Act.

6Until the coming into force of section 69(1)—

(a)the Lord Chancellor, with the concurrence of the Minister for the Civil Service as to numbers and terms and conditions of service, may, subject to section 70, appoint such officers and other staff for the Supreme Court, county courts, magistrates' courts, the Enforcement of Judgments Office and coroners' courts as appear to him to be necessary and such officers and staff shall discharge their functions in accordance with directions given by the Lord Chancellor;

(b)any person heretofore holding office or serving in or in connection with—

(i)a court mentioned in the first column of the Table mentioned in paragraph 1 shall except as provided by Part VI of this Act or Part III of this Schedule, continue in corresponding office or service in or in connection with the court specified opposite that court in the second column of that Table as if he had been appointed under sub-paragraph (a) upon the terms and conditions on which he heretofore held office or served ;

(ii)county courts, magistrates' courts, the Enforcement of Judgments Office or coroners' courts shall continue to do so as if he had been appointed under sub-paragraph (a) upon the terms and conditions on which he heretofore held office ;

(iii)county courts shall be deemed to be an officer of the Crown Court.

7In so far as any instrument made or other thing done under a statutory provision repealed by this Act could have been made or done under a corresponding provision of this Act then it shall on the commencement of the relevant provision of this Act have effect as if done under that provision.

8Until the issue of commissions of the peace by virtue of section 103 any person authorised to act as a justice of the peace in any county or county borough which includes the whole or any part of a county court division shall be deemed to be a justice of the peace duly appointed to a commission issued for that division under that section.

9Until an order under section 68(3) comes into force in relation to any place in which heretofore there was established a district probate registry, that registry shall continue in existence and—

(a)shall be deemed to be a branch office of the Probate and Matrimonial Office ;

(b)may transact such of the business of that Office as may be specified in directions given by the Lord Chancellor; and

(c)may be placed under the supervision of a circuit registrar.

10This Part and Parts II and III of this Schedule apply subject to the express provisions of this Act.

PART IIThe Crown Court

11(1)For the purpose of enabling indictable proceedings instituted before the commencement of Part IV of this Act to be continued thereafter, and for preserving in other respects the continuity of the administration of justice, the Crown Court shall be treated as succeeding to, and being the same court as, all courts of assize and county courts when exercising jurisdiction in or in relation to such proceedings.

(2)Any order, writ, summons, warrant, recognizance, notice, grant of legal aid or other proceeding or document shall have effect in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) and shall be construed, unless the context otherwise requires, in accordance with the Table in paragraph 2 of Part I of Schedule 5.

(3)In any proceedings in which a magistrates' court has committed a person for trial at, or otherwise given a direction as respects the hearing of proceedings by, a specified court of assize or county court, the place and time of trial of the proceedings in the Crown Court shall be determined in accordance with directions given by or on behalf of the Lord Chancellor, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice.

12Any indictable proceeding the hearing of which has begun but is not completed before the commencement of Part IV of this Act before a court of assize or county court shall be continued and disposed of as if this Act had not been passed.

13Nothing in this Act shall affect any order made before the commencement of Part IV of this Act for the payment of costs under the [1968 c. 10 (N.I.).] Costs in Criminal Cases Act (Northern Ireland) 1968, and any such costs shall be taxable and recoverable as if this Act had not been passed.

14The clerk of the Crown and peace of each county court shall make arrangements, in accordance with directions given by or on behalf of the Lord Chancellor for the disposal in accordance with those directions of all records in his custody or control which relate to the exercise by the county court of its jurisdiction to try indictable offences.

15(1)Subject to any provision made by rules of court, and to sub-paragraph (2) below—

(a)any civil proceedings (including civil bill appeals) which had been begun in a court of assize before the commencement of Part IV of this Act may be continued thereafter in the High Court as if they had been begun in the High Court, and

(b)any act, judgment or order in civil proceedings in a court of assize shall be treated as having been done, given or made in accordance with the rules applicable to proceedings in the High Court, other than in a court of assize.

(2)Any civil proceedings in a court of assize the hearing of which has begun but is not completed before the commencement of Part IV of this Act shall be continued and disposed of as if this Act had not passed.

16(1)The Lord Chief Justice may, if it appears to him expedient, give directions as to the conduct of any civil proceedings begun in a court of assize or any indictable proceedings instituted before the commencement of Part IV of this Act if in his opinion the direction is required to meet any difficulty arising from the commencement of that Part.

(2)The preceding provisions of this Part shall have effect subject to any direction under this paragraph.

(3)A direction under this paragraph may relate either to a specified proceeding, or to proceedings of a specified class or description.

PART IIIStatutory Officers

17On the coming into operation of section 70(1) the Lord Chancellor shall, in accordance with that subsection, appoint as statutory officers the persons heretofore holding the offices listed in column 4 of Schedule 3 and shall not, in relation to any such person, have power to make any such direction as is referred to in section 71(4).

18Notwithstanding the provisions of section 70(2), a person who heretofore held any office in the Supreme Court shall be qualified for appointment to any office listed in column 1 of Schedule 3.

Section 122(2).

SCHEDULE 7Repeals

PART IActs of the Parliaments of England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom

ChapterShort TitleExtent of Repeal
4 Edw. 3. (1330).The Statute made at Westminster in the Fourth Year of the Reign of King Edward the Third after the Conquest.Chapter II as it applies to Northern Ireland.
39 & 40 Geo. 3. c. 67.The Union with Ireland Act 1800.In Article VIII of the Treaty of Union as set out in section 1 the words from " that from " to " Court of Chancery in Ireland; and".
41 Geo. 3. c. 88.The Judges' Lodgings (Ireland) Act 1801.The whole Act.
44 Geo. 3. c. 102.The Habeas Corpus Act 1804.In section 1 as it applies to Northern Ireland the words from " or any justice of oyer" to " baron as aforesaid " and the words " or any sitting of nisi prius ".
50 Geo. 3. c. 102.The Unlawful Oaths (Ireland) Act 1810.Sections 8 and 9.
55 Geo. 3. c. 157.The Evidence (Ireland) Act 1815.The whole Act.
57 Geo. 3. c. 56.The Recognizances (Ireland) Act 1817.The whole Act.
60 Geo. 3 & 1 Geo. 4. c. 4.The Pleading in Misdemeanor Act 1819.The whole Act as it applies to Northern Ireland.
1 Geo. 4. c. 5.The Transfer of Stock (Ireland) Act 1820.The whole Act.
1 & 2 Geo. 4. c. 36.The Public Notaries (Ireland) Act 1821.The whole Act.
1 & 2 Geo. 4. c. 53.The Common Law Procedure (Ireland) Act 1821.The whole Act.
1 & 2 Geo. 4. c. 54.The Clerk of Assize (Ireland) Act 1821.The whole Act.
4 Geo. 4. c. 61.The Court of Chancery (Ireland) Act 1823.The whole Act.
4 Geo. 4. c. 89.The Law Costs (Ireland) Act 1823.The whole Act.
5 Geo. 4. c. 111.The Crown Debts Act 1824.The whole Act as it applies to Northern Ireland.
6 Geo. 4. c.51.The Assizes (Ireland) Act 1825.The whole Act.
9 Geo. 4. c. 54.The Criminal Law (Ireland) Act 1828.Sections 22, 26, 27 and 34.
11 Geo. 4 & 1 Will. 4. c. 65.The Infants Property Act 1830.In section 14 as it applies to Northern Ireland the words "and lord chancellor intrusted as aforesaid, respectively".
2 & 3 Will. 4. c. 48.The Clerk of the Crown (Ireland) Act 1832.The whole Act.
4 & 5 Will. 4. c. 78.The Chancery (Ireland) Act 1834.The whole Act.
5 & 6 Will. 4. c. 16.The Chancery (Ireland) Act 1835.The whole Act.
5 & 6 Will. 4. c. 26.The Assizes (Ireland) Act 1835.The whole Act.
5 & 6 Will. 4. c. 55.The Sheriffs (Ireland) Act 1835.Sections 6, 11 to 17, 23, 24 and 39 to 41.
6 & 7 Will. 4. c. 74.The Court of Chancery (Ireland) Act 1836.The whole Act.
1 & 2 Vict. c. 56.The Poor Relief (Ireland) Act 1838.Sections 114 to 116.
3 & 4 Vict. c. 105.The Debtors (Ireland) Act 1840.The whole Act.
3 & 4 Vict. c. 108.The Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840.Sections 22, 51, 130 and 139.
3 & 4 Vict. c. 109.The Counties and Boroughs (Ireland) Act 1840.In section 1, the words from "and shall" to "common boundary" and the words from " Provided also," to the end.
5 & 6 Vict. c. 69.The Perpetuation of Testimony Act 1842.The whole Act as it applies to Northern Ireland.
5 & 6 Vict. c. 94.The Defence Act 1842.Section 29 as it applies to Northern Ireland.
5 & 6 Vict. c. 97.The Limitation of Actions and Costs Act 1842.The whole Act as it applies to Northern Ireland.
6 & 7 Vict. c. 85.The Evidence Act 1843.Section 2 as it applies to Northern Ireland.
6 & 7 Vict. c. 98.The Slave Trade Act 1843.In section 4 as it applies to Northern Ireland the words from " or information " to " Queen's Bench ", the words " or informations respectively " and the words " in her Majesty's said Court of Queen's Bench ".
7 & 8 Vict. c. 107.The Common Law Offices (Ireland) Act 1844.The whole Act.
8 & 9 Vict. c. 115.The Chancery Taxing Master (Ireland) Act 1845.The whole Act.
11 & 12 Vict. c. 132.The Taxing Masters (Ireland) Act 1848.The whole Act.
12 & 13 Vict. c. 105.The Renewable Leasehold Conversion Act 1849.Section 21.
13 & 14 Vict. c. 73.The Attachment of Goods (Ireland) Act 1850.The whole Act.
14 & 15 Vict. c. 20.The Fee-Farm Rents (Ireland) Act 1851.In section 1, the words from " and save and except " to the end of the section.
14 & 15 Vict. c.70.The Railways Act (Ireland) 1851.Section 25.
14 & 15 Vict. c. 90.The Fines Act (Ireland) 1851.In section 2 the words from "And in order " to the end.
In section 4, from the beginning of paragraph 4 to the end of the section.
Section 9.
14 & 15 Vict. c. 99.The Evidence Act 1851.Section 6 as it applies to Northern Ireland.
14 & 15 Vict. c. 100.The Criminal Procedure Act 1851.Section 27 as it applies to Northern Ireland.
15 & 16 Vict. c. 55.The Trustee Act 1852.Sections 10 and 11 as they apply to Northern Ireland.
16 & 17 Vict. c. 113.The Common Law Procedure Amendment Act (Ireland) 1853.The whole Act.
17 & 18 Vict. c. 34.The Attendance of Witnesses Act 1854.The whole Act so far as it authorises the issue of process by the High Court.
17 & 18 Vict. c. 38.The Gaming Houses Act 1854.Section 12 as it applies to Northern Ireland.
17 & 18 Vict. c. 94.The Public Revenue and Consolidated Fund Charges Act 1854.In Schedule B the entries relating to the salaries of registrars to the judges, Ireland and to lodging money for judges at assizes (Ireland).
19 & 20 Vict. c. 77.The Chancery Receivers (Ireland) Act 1856.The whole Act.
19 & 20 Vict. c. 92.The Chancery Appeal Court (Ireland) Act 1856.The whole Act.
19 & 20 Vict. c. 102.The Common Law Procedure Amendment Act (Ireland) 1856.The whole Act.
20 & 21 Vict. c. 60.The Irish Bankrupt and Insolvent Act 1857.Sections 11, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, 36, 41, 49, 51, 52, 78, 86, 366, 367 and 369.
In section 370 in the paragraph beginning " Fourth" the words from " before a notary public " to " in England ".
Sections 372 to 375.
20 & 21 Vict. c.79.The Probates and Letters of Administration Act (Ireland) 1857.Sections 6, 16 to 18, 23 to 29, 32, 34, 36, 41, 69, 109, 114 and 115.
Schedule A.
21 & 22 Vict. c. 27.The Chancery Amendment Act 1858.The whole Act as it applies to Northern Ireland.
21 & 22 Vict. c. 72.The Landed Estates Court (Ireland) Act 1858.Sections 37, 40, 55, 65, 74, 75, 77, 78, 86 and 89.
Schedule A.
22 & 23 Vict. c. 21.The Queen's Remembrancer Act 1859.Section 15 as it applies to Northern Ireland.
22 & 23 Vict. c. 31.The Court of Probate Act (Ireland) 1859.Sections 1, 3, 4, 9, 20 and 31.
23 & 24 Vict. c. 38.The Law of Property Amendment Act 1860.Section 10 as it applies to Northern Ireland.
23 & 24 Vict. c. 97.The Railways Act (Ireland) 1860.Section 3.
In section 4 the words from "and the money so deposited" to " accumulated ".
Section 7.
23 & 24 Vict. c. 154.The Landlord and Tenant Law Amendment Act Ireland 1860.Sections 70 and 71.
27 & 28 Vict. c. 7.The Bills of Exchange (Ireland) Act 1864.The whole Act.
30 & 31 Vict. c. 44.The Chancery (Ireland) Act 1867.The whole Act.
30 & 31 Vict. c. 114.The Court of Admiralty (Ireland) Act 1867.The whole Act.
30 & 31 Vict. c. 129.The Chancery and Common Law Offices (Ireland) Act 1867.The whole Act.
31 & 32 Vict. c. 20.The Legitimacy Declaration Act (Ireland) 1868.Sections 3, 4, 5 and 7.
31 & 32 Vict. c. 70.The Railways Traverse Act 1868.The whole Act as it applies to Northern Ireland.
31 & 32 Vict. c. 125.The Parliamentary Elections Act 1868.The whole Act as it applies to Northern Ireland.
33 & 34 Vict. c. 110.The Matrimonial Causes and Marriage Law (Ireland) Amendment Act 1870.Sections 8, 10, 11, 12, 14 to 17, 23, 28 and 29.
34 & 35 Vict. c. 22.The Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871.In section 2 the definition of " the registrar ".
Section 16.
In section 17 the words from " or where the judge" to " required ".
Section 24.
In section 41 the words " and the Bank of Ireland ".
In section 49 the words " and the Bank of Ireland" and the words from " in the same manner " to " entered in the Court of Chancery ".
Section 55(6).
In section 105 the words from " provided " to the end.
Section 108.
In section 110 the words "of the Court of Chancery" where last occurring.
Section 112.
In section 114 the words from " and also " where first occurring to " Ireland ".
In section 118 the words from " and, so far " to the end.
34 & 35 Vict. c. 49.The Matrimonial Causes and Marriage Law (Ireland) Amendment Act 1871.Sections 3, 9, 11 to 14 and 20.
34 & 35 Vict. c. 65.The Juries Act (Ireland) 1871.In section 3 the definitions of "court" and "judge".
In section 18 the words " at any general sessions of the peace " and the words " and in respect of the panels for the assizes, in the office of the returning officer in Dublin ".
Sections 32, 48 and 51.
35 & 36 Vict. c. 58.The Bankruptcy (Ireland) Amendment Act 1872.Sections 8, 10, 11 and 13 to 16.
35 & 36 Vict. c. 75.The Commissioners for Oaths (Ireland) Act 1872.The whole Act.
39 & 40 Vict. c. 28.The Court of Admiralty (Ireland) Amendment Act 1876.The whole Act.
40 & 41 Vict. c. 11.The Jurisdiction in Rating Act 1877.In section 3 the words from "As to Ireland " to " Dublin; and ".
40 & 41 Vict. c. 18.The Settled Estates Act 1877.Section 42 as it applies to Northern Ireland.
40 & 41 Vict. c. 56.The County Officers and Courts (Ireland) Act 1877.The whole Act.
40 & 41 Vict. c. 57.The Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Ireland) 1877.The whole Act.
41 & 42 Vict. c. 69.The Petty Sessions Clerks and Fines (Ireland) Act 1878.Section 9.
42 & 43 Vict. c. 50.The Bills of Sale (Ireland) Act 1879.Sections 17 and 21.
42 & 43 Vict. c. 75.The Parliamentary Elections and Corrupt Practices Act 1879.The whole Act as it applies to Northern Ireland.
44 & 45 Vict. c. 41.The Conveyancing Act 1881.Sections 48(5), 69(3) and (7) and 72(3) and (5) as they apply to Northern Ireland.
45 & 46 Vict. c. 29.The County Court Amendment (Ireland) Act 1882.The whole Act.
45 & 46 Vict. c. 38.The Settled Land Act 1882.Section 65(3) and (4) as it applies to Northern Ireland.
45 & 46 Vict. c. 61.The Bills of Exchange Act 1882.Section 70 as it applies to Northern Ireland.
45 & 46 Vict. c. 70.The Supreme Court of Judicature (Ireland) Act 1882.The whole Act.
45 & 46 Vict. c. 72.The Revenue, Friendly Societies, and National Debt Act 1882.Section 25 as it applies to Northern Ireland.
48 & 49 Vict. c. 73.The Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act 1885.Section 19.
49 & 50 Vict. c. 27.The Guardianship of Infants Act 1886.In section 9 as it applies to Northern Ireland the words from "Any application" to the end.
In section 10 as it applies to Northern Ireland the words from " In Ireland an appeal " to the end.
Section 11 as it applies to Northern Ireland.
50 & 51 Vict. c. 6.The Supreme Court of Judicature (Ireland) Act 1887.The whole Act.
50 & 51 Vict. c. 33.The Land Law (Ireland) Act 1887.Section 7.
50 & 51 Vict. c. 57.The Deeds of Arrangement Act 1887.Section 18 as it applies to Northern Ireland.
51 & 52 Vict. c. 27.The Supreme Court of Judicature (Ireland) Amendment Act 1888.The whole Act.
52 & 53 Vict. c. 48.The County Court Appeals (Ireland) Act 1889.The whole Act.
52 & 53 Vict. c. 63.The Interpretation Act 1889.In section 13, paragraphs (4), (5) and (14) as they apply to Northern Ireland.
53 & 54 Vict. c. 24.The Deeds of Arrangement Amendment Act 1890.Section 3 as it applies to Northern Ireland.
59 & 60 Vict. c. 8.The Life Insurance Companies (Payment into Court) Act 1896.In section 4 as it applies to Northern Ireland the words " or the Palatine Court, as the case may be ".
60 & 61 Vict. c. 17.The Supreme Court of Judicature (Ireland) Act 1897.The whole Act.
60 & 61 Vict. c. 20.The Quarter Sessions Jurors (Ireland) Act 1897.The whole Act.
60 & 61 Vict. c. 66.The Supreme Court of Judicature (Ireland) (No. 2) Act 1897.The whole Act.
61 & 62 Vict. c. 37.The Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898.In section 69 the word " assizes" and the words " justices, general, quarter or petty sessions ".
1 Edw. 7. c. 17.The Lunacy (Ireland) Act 1901.The whole Act.
6 & 7 Geo. 5. c. 46.The Law and Procedure (Emergency Provisions) (Ireland) Act 1916.The whole Act.
10 & 11 Geo. 5. c. 67.The Government of Ireland Act 1920.Sections 38 and 40.
In section 41(1) the words from " Provided that " to the end.
Sections 44, 46 and 50.
Schedule 7.
10 & 11 Geo. 5. c. 81.The Administration of Justice Act 1920.Sections 11 and 12(2) as they apply to Northern Ireland.
13 Geo. 5. Sess. 2. c. 2.The Irish Free State (Consequential Provisions) Act 1922.Paragraph 6 of Schedule 1.
16 & 17 Geo. 5. c.44.The Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland Act 1926.The whole Act.
22 & 23 Geo.5. c. 11.The Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1932.Section 5.
25 & 26 Geo. 5. c. 21.The Northern Ireland Land Purchase (Winding Up) Act 1935.Sections 2, 6(3), 7(1)(a), 8 and 9(4).
6 & 7 Geo. 6. c. 2.The Supreme Court (Northern Ireland) Act 1942.The whole Act.
8 & 9 Geo. 6. c. 12.The Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1945.Section 8.
12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. 68.The Representation of the People Act 1949.Section 111(1) and (4) as it applies to Northern Ireland.
Section 160 as it applies to Northern Ireland.
14 Geo. 6. c. 27.The Arbitration Act 1950.Section 42(4).
14 Geo. 6. c. 37.The Maintenance Orders Act 1950.Section 13(2).
15 & 16Geo.6. & 1 Eliz. 2. c. 12.The Judicial Offices (Salaries etc.) Act 1952.Section 4(2).
2 & 3 Eliz. 2. c. 38.The Supreme Court Officers (Pensions) Act 1954.Section 4.
3 & 4 Eliz. 2. c. 8.The Northern Ireland Act 1955.Section 2.
4 & 5 Eliz. 2. c. 46.The Administration of Justice Act 1956.In Part I of Schedule 1, paragraph 2 and in paragraph 3 the words " or the local court" wherever they occur and the words " or (where it has such jurisdiction) the local court" in sub-paragraph (4).
8 & 9 Eliz. 2. c. 65.The Administration of Justice Act 1960.Sections 1 to 6, 9, 13, 15, 16, 17(1), (3) and (4) and 18(3) as they apply to Northern Ireland.
In Schedule 2, paragraphs 1 and 3 in Part I and Part II except so much thereof as modifies sections 12 and 14.
10 & 11 Eliz. 2. c. 30.The Northern Ireland Act 1962.Sections 1 to 5 and 7 to 11.
Schedule 1.
1965 c. 2.The Administration of Justice Act 1965.Sections 30, 32 and 33.
1967 c. 80.The Criminal Justice Act 1967.Section 106(3)(d).
In Schedule 4, paragraphs 25 and 27, and in paragraph 26 the words " and also as it applies to Northern Ireland ".
1968 c. 5.The Administration of Justice Act 1968.Section 1(1)(d) and (6).
1968 c. 21.The Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1968.Part I.
In section 14(2) the words from " The powers of " to the end.
In section 30(2) the words " of Appeal".
In section 46(2)(b) the words " of assize or county court " in the second place where they occur.
Section 49(1).
In section 49(3) the words " under section 7(1) of the said Act of 1962 by virtue of subsection (1) of this section ".
In section 50(1) the definitions of " county court", " the Lord Chief Justice " and " the Supreme Court".
In section 53(1) the words in brackets.
Section 53(2).
Section 54.
Part I of Schedule 3.
Schedules 4 and 5.
1968 c. 63.The Domestic and Appellate Proceedings (Restriction of Publicity) Act 1968.In section 4(2) the words " a Divisional Court of the Queen's Bench Division of ".
1969 c. 12.The Genocide Act 1969.Section 1(5).
1969 c. 58.The Administration of Justice Act 1969.In section 12, as it applies to Northern Ireland, subsection (2)(b) and in subsection (8) the words "or commissioner" and "or paragraph (b)".
Section 16(2).
In Schedule 1 the entry relating to the Northern Ireland Act 1962.
1970 c. 9.The Taxes Management Act 1970.In Schedule 4, paragraph 13.
1973 c. 15.The Administration of Justice Act 1973.In section 18(2)(b) the words " a divisional court of the Queen's Bench Division of ".
1973 c. 36.The Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.In paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 the words " the Court of Criminal Appeal in Northern Ireland ".
1974 c. 6.The Biological Weapons Act 1974.Section 2(2).
1975 c. 24.The House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975.In Part III of Schedule 1 the entry relating to an officer of or attached to the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland.
1975 c. 25.The Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975.In Part III of Schedule 1 the entry relating to an officer of or attached to the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland.
1975 c. 34.The Evidence (Proceedings in Other Jurisdictions) Act 1975.In section 4 the words " and High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland ".
1977 c. 38.The Administration of Justice Act 1977.In Part III of Schedule 2, paragraph 12.
1978 c. 5.The Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978.Section 34(1).

PART IIActs of the Irish Parliament and Parliament of Northern Ireland

10 Chas. 1. Sess. 2 c. 14 (Ir.).The Demise of the Crown Act (Ireland) 1634.The whole Act.
10 Chas. 1 Sess. 3 c. 13 (Ir.).The Forcible Entry Act (Ireland) 1634.Section 3.
10 Chas. 1. Sess. 3 c. 18 (Ir.).The Oaths Act (Ireland) 1634.The whole Act.
7 Will, 3. c. 12. (Ir.).The Statute of Frauds (Ireland) 1695.Sections 10, 11 and 14.
7 Will. 3.c. 13. (Ir.).The Sheriffs Act (Ireland) 1695.The whole Act.
1 Geo. 2. c. 8. (Ir.).The Privilege of Parliament Act (Ireland) 1727.In section 1 the words from " at Dublin " to " courts of appeal".
9 Geo. 2. c. 7. (Ir.).The Land Improvement Act (Ireland) 1735.In section 1 the words from " in manner following: " to the end of the section.
19 Geo. 2. c. 12 (Ir.).An Act for the better regulating of Corporations.The whole Act.
1 Geo. 3.c. 17. (Ir.).The Expiring Laws Act (Ireland) 1761.Section 10.
3 Geo. 3. c. 28 (Ir.).The Criminal Justice Act (Ireland) 1763.The whole Act.
11 & 12 Geo. 3. c. 34 (Ir.).The Criminal Justice (Venue) Act (Ireland) 1771.The whole Act.
21 & 22 Geo. 3. c. 11 (Ir.).The Habeas Corpus Act (Ireland) 1781.Sections 6, 9, 11 and 12.
21 & 22 Geo. 3. c. 51 (Ir.).The Criminal Justice (Venue) Act (Ireland) 1781.The whole Act.
25 Geo. 3. c. 36 (Ir.).The Sheriffs Act (Ireland) 1785.Sections 2 to 4.
36 Geo. 3. c. 26 (Ir.).The Judges Salaries Act (Ireland) 1796.The whole Act.
38 Geo. 3. c. 2 (Ir.).The Quo Warranto Act (Ireland) 1798.The whole Act.
40 Geo. 3. c. 38 (Ir.).The Act of Union (Ireland) 1800.In Article VIII of the Treaty of Union as set out in section 1 the words from " that from " to " chancery in Ireland; and ".
40 Geo. 3. c.69 (Ir.).The Judicial Salaries and Pensions Act (Ireland) 1800.The whole Act.
14 & 15 Geo. 5. c. 21 (N.I.).The Industrial Assurance Act (Northern Ireland) 1924.Section 7(1)(c).
14 & 15 Geo. 5. c. 27 (N.I.).The Illegitimate Children (Affiliation Orders) Act (Northern Ireland) 1924.In section 9(2) the words from " whether " to the end.
16 & 17Geo.5. c. 15 (N.I.).The Jury Laws Amendment Act (Northern Ireland) Act 1926.In section 14(1) the words " or section forty-eight" and the words " or under section nine of the Petty Sessions Clerks and Fines (Ireland) Act 1878 ".
Section 14(2).
20 Geo. 5. c. 1 (N.I.).The Bankruptcy Amendment Act (Northern Ireland) 1929.In section 21(10) the words from ""the court"" to " 1897 ".
In section 28(1) in the definition of " Official Assignee " the words from "as amended" to the end.
21 & 22 Geo. 5. c. 12 (N.I.).The Planning and Housing Act (Northern Ireland) 1931.Section 47(1).
21 & 22 Geo. 5. c. 14 (N.I.).The Wild Birds Protection Act (Northern Ireland) 1931.Section 14(2).
23 & 24 Geo. 5. c. 16 (N.I.).The Probates and Letters of Administration Act (Northern Ireland) 1933.Section 3.
Edw. 8 & 1 Geo. 6. c. 9 (N.I.).The Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1937.Section 18.
2 & 3 Geo. 6. c. 12 (N.I.).The Evidence Act (Northern Ireland) 1939.In section 6(1) the definition of " rules of court".
4 & 5 Geo. 6. c. 9.The Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act (Northern Ireland) 1940.Section 4(3).
1945 c. 15 (N.I.).The Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945.In section 7(1) the words " county or " wherever they occur and the words from " Provided that " to the end.
Section 7(2).
In sections 30(1) and 33(4) the word " Criminal " wherever it occurs after " of".
1945 c. 16 (N.I.).The Indictments Act (Northern Ireland) 1945.As from such date as is referred to in section 52(2) of this Act, sections 1 and 2 and in section 7 the words " or the rules made thereunder ".
1954 c. 9 (N.I.).The Administration of Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1954.Section 12.
In section 13(1) and (2) the words " (whether in the same or another county)".
Section 13(6).
In section 16(1) the word " (Ulster)".
Section 16(2).
Section 17.
Section 22.
Section 24.
Section 26.
Section 29.
1954 c. 33 (N.I.).The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954.

In section 21—

(a)

in subsection (1) the word " fees ";

(b)

in subsection (2), paragraph (b);

(c)

in subsection (6) in paragraph (a) the words " or the Court of Criminal Appeal" and in paragraph (b) the words "and to courts of quarter sessions ".

In section 42(1) the definition of " court of quarter sessions ".
In section 42(2) the words " a court of quarter sessions", the words " court of quarter sessions " wherever they occur and the words "or court of quarter sessions ".
In section 42(3) in the definition of " county court judge " the words " a chairman of a court of quarter sessions, and " and the words from " holding " to the end.
In section 42(4) the definition of " assizes ".
In section 46(1) in the definition of " Lands Clauses Acts " the words ", the Railways Traverse Act, 1868 ".
1959 c. 15 (N.I.).The Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959.Section 4.
In section 40 the definitions of " appointed day ", " council", "county", "maintenance and equipment", " Ministry " and " Minister ".
1959 c. 25 (N.I.).The County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959.In section 3(1) the words " by the Ministry ".
Section 3(2).
Section 6(2)(b) and (c).
Section 7.
In section 10(4) the words from " Except " to " 1956 ".
Section 14.
In section 16 the words " Chancery Division of the ".
In section 21(2) the words " to proceedings in any Admiralty cause or matter, or ".
Sections 39 to 42.
Section 45.
Section 50.
In section 71(1)(b) the words in brackets.
Section 98.
Section 99(3).
Sections 100 and 101.
Sections 108 to 110.
In section 111(1) the words from the beginning to " 1954 ".
Sections 112 and 113.
Section 115.
Section 116(2) and (3).
Section 118.
Section 137(b) and (c).
Section 138.
In section 145(2) the words " or a court of assize ".
Section 146(1).
In section 147(b)(ii) the words " and by leave of the judge any action in which the sum claimed or the amount involved does not exceed fifty pounds ".
In section 147(b)(iii) the words " Queen's Bench Division of the ".
Section 147(c) and (e)(ii).
In section 148 the words from " and all orders as to fees " to " as to costs or fees " and the words " costs and fees ".
In section 150 the words " Chancery Division of the ".
In section 152(1) the definitions of " Minister " and " Ministry " and in the definition of " prescribed " the words " or by regulations made under subsection (10) of section one hundred and eight,".
Section 154(2).
Schedules 1 and 3.
1960 c. 22 (N.I.).The Companies Act (Northern Ireland) 1960.Section 349(7).
1961 c. 15 (N.I.).The Mental Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1961.In section 113(1) the definitions of " the Department for the Affairs of Mental Patients" and " Lord Chief Justice ".
Section 117(1)
1962 c. 14 (N.I.).The Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962.Section 43(4).
Section 72(4).
Section 83(5).
In Schedule 8, paragraph 3(1) and (3).
1964 c. 3 (N.I).The County Court Appeals Act (Northern Ireland) 1964.In section 2(1) the words from " made otherwise than " to "Act of 1959".
In section 3(1) the words "judge of assize or ".
Section 5(a)(ii)
Section 6.
In Schedule 1 the amendment to the Town Tenants (Ireland) Act 1906.
1964 c. 13 (N.I.).The Agricultural Marketing Act (Northern Ireland) 1964.Section 13(6)(b).
1964 c. 21 (N.I.).The Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964.Sections 4 and 5.
In section 7 the words from " so, however, that " to the end.
Section 8.
In section 13(2) the words " , subject to section 3(4),".
Section 14(2).
In section 22 the words " by the Ministry ".

In section 23—

(a)

subsection (3);

(b)

in subsection (7) the words " or (3) "and " and fees";

(c)

subsections (8) and (9).

In section 24(a) the word " fees ".
In section 25(1) the words " of the Ministry ".
Section 25(3).
In section 26(1) the words " and fees ".
Sections 27 to 29.
Section 32(5).
Section 47.
In section 48(1) the words " the crown and peace for the county or county borough in or for which", the word "sat", the words "end of the assize or " and the word " county" where it next occurs.
Section 151.
In section 152(1)(b) the words from the beginning to " section 151(3)".
In section 169(1) the definitions of " Minister " and " Ministry ".
Section 169(3).
Section 173(2).
Schedule 1.
In Schedule 6 the entries, relating to the Education Act (Northern Ireland) 1947, the National Assistance Act (Northern Ireland) 1948 and the Road Traffic Act (Northern Ireland) 1955.
1964 c. 30 (N.I.).The County Courts (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 1964.In section 1 the words from " in proceedings brought" to " Part V of the principal Act and" and the words from "after section 40(3)" to " and" (where it appears before the words " after section 44(4)").
Sections 4 and 5.
1967 c. 18 (N.I.).The Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967.Section 8.
In section 12(1) the words " and to subsection (2) ".
Section 12(2).
1968 c. 6 (N.I.).The Insurance Companies Act (Northern Ireland) 1968.Section 55(2).
So much of Schedule 5 as relates to section 7(1)(c) of the Industrial Assurance Act (Northern Ireland) 1924.
1968 c. 10 (N.I.).The Costs in Criminal Cases Act (Northern Ireland) 1968.Section 3(7)(a)(ii).
1968 c. 29 (N.I.).The Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) 1968.Section 20(2).
In section 20(3)(a) the words from " having power" to " order for detention, " and " by that court of assize or county court ".
Section 20(4).
In section 21(2) the words " (2) or ".
In section 21(3) the words from " having jurisdiction in that place " to the end.
In section 25(3) the words " as the case may be ".
Section 26(1).
In section 29(1) and (4) the word " Criminal " wherever it occurs after " of ".
1968 c. 34 (N.I.).The Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968.In section 178(4) the words-"county or county borough which consists of or includes the ".
1969 c. 15 (N.I.).The Grand Jury (Abolition) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.In section 2(2), the words from "or, in the case of" to the end.
Sections 2(7) and 3(3).
1969 c. 30 (N.I.).The Judgments (Enforcement) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.Sections 5 to 7.
In section 18 the words " fixed by regulations ".
In section 19(1) the words " so fixed ".
Section 30.
In section 40(3) the words " and approved by the Ministry of Finance ".
In section 43(4)(a) the words " a judge of ".
In section 52(1)(b) the words "a judge of "and "judge or".
In sections 52(3), 56(2) and 70(2) the words " a judge of".
Section 62(c).
In section 91 the words " a judge of" where they twice occur and the words "judge or ".
In sections 92(1) and 94 the words " a judge of ".
In section 113(1) the words " appointed under section 3(2)".
In section 114(1) the words " or regulations ".
In section 116(1) the words " a judge of ".
Sections 118 and 119.

In section 129(1)—

(a)

in the definition of " court " the words " a judge of ";

(b)

the definitions of " the Minister ", " the Ministry " and " regulations ".

Section 133(2).
In Schedule 4, Part II, the entry relating to section 70 of the Landlord and Tenant Law Amendment Act Ireland 1860.
1970 c 2 (N.I.).The Road Traffic Act (Northern Ireland) 1970.Section 87(2).
1971 c. 30 (N.I.).The Payments for Debt (Emergency Provisions) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971.In section 9(2) the words " a judge of ".
Section 13(1).
Section 14.
In section 17(1) and (2) the words " subject to subsection (3) "
Section 17(3).
1971 c. 36 (N.I.).The Civil Evidence Act (Northern Ireland) 1971.Section 5(6).
1972 c. 6 (N.I.).The Evidence of Alibi Act (Northern Ireland) 1972.Section 1(1)(b).

PART IIIOrders in Council

Year and NumberShort TitleExtent of Repeal
S.R. & O. 1921/1802.The Supreme Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland) Order 1921.Articles 3 and 5 to 9.
S.R. & O. 1922/79.The Government of Ireland (Supreme Court Matters, etc.) Order 1922.Articles 5, 6(a), (b) and (d) and 7 to 11.
S.R. & O. 1927/342.The Supreme Court of Judicature (Northern Ireland) Order 1927.The whole Order.
S.I. 1971/875.The Northern Ireland (Remittal and Removal of Proceedings) Order 1971.The whole Order.
S.I. 1972/965 (N.I. 5).The County Courts (Additional Sittings) (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.The whole Order.
S.I.1973/2163.The Northern Ireland (Modification of Enactments—No. 1) Order 1973.Article 6(2), (4) and (6)(b).
Article 14(4) and (5).
In Schedule 1 the entries relating to the Fines (Ireland) Act 1851, the Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959, the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959, the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964, Schedule 2 to the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 and the Judgments (Enforcement) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.
In Schedule 2 the entries relating to the Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959, the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959, the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 and the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968.
In Schedule 3 the entries relating to the Fines Act (Ireland) 1851 and the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959.
In Schedule 4 the entries relating to the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 and the Judgments (Enforcement) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969.
In Schedule 5 paragraphs 1, 6, 9, 25, 28, 38(d) and (e), 43, 44, 49, 57(d) and 60.
S.I. 1974/2143 (N.I. 6).The Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1974.In Article 2(2) in the definition of " jury service " the words "under-sheriff" and the words " or any division thereof ".
In Schedule 4, paragraph 6.
S.I. 1975/816 (N.I. 7).The Administration of Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1975.Article 2(2)(b).
Articles 3 to 7,9,11 and 13.
Schedule 2.
S.I. 1975/1503 (N.I. 15).The Social Security Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1975.In Schedule 5, paragraph 4.
S.I. 1976/226 (N.I. 4).The Treatment of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1976.Article 3(6).
S.I. 1976/582 (N.I. 12).The Solicitors (Northern Ireland) Order 1976.In Articles 15(1) and 37(2) the words " or any court, division or judge thereof".
Article 78(5).
Articles 79 and 80.
S.I. 1977/1251 (N.I. 18).The Fatal Accidents (Northern Ireland) Order 1977.In Schedule 1, paragraph 4.

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