From and after the passing of this Act it shall be lawful for any judge of his Majesty’s courts of King’s Bench or Common Pleas of England and Ireland respectively, or any baron of his Majesty’s Court of Exchequer of the degree of the coif in England, or any baron of his Majesty’s Court of Exchequer in Ireland, . . . F1 at his discretion, to award a writ or writs of habeas corpus, for bringing any prisoner or prisoners detained in any gaol or prison before any of the said courts, . . . F1 or before any other court of record in the said parts of the said United Kingdom, to be there examined as a witness or witnesses, and to testify the truth before such courts, or any . . . F2 jury, in any cause or causes, matter or matters, civil or criminal, whatsoever, which now are or hereafter shall be depending or to be enquired into or determined in any of the said courts.
Textual Amendments
F1Words repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 11 Pt. IV and Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23), Sch. 7
F2Words repealed by Courts Act 1971 (c. 23), Sch. 11 Pt. IV and S.I. 1974/2143 (N.I. 6), Sch. 5
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Reference to judges of the Courts of King's Bench and Common Pleas and to barons of the Court of Exchequer to be construed as reference to (E.W.) a judge of the High Court: Supreme Court of Judicature (Consolidation) Act 1925 (c. 49), ss. 18, 224(1) and (N.I.) to a judge of the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland: Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Ireland) 1877 (c. 57), ss. 21, 71 and S. R. & O. 1921/1802 (Rev. XVI, p. 954: 1921, p. 1332), art. 2(1) and Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23), s. 16(2), Sch. 5 para. 1