(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[F2 are—
(a)members of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least seven years' standing; or
(b)solicitors of the[F3Court of Judicature] of at least seven years' standing.]
Subs. (2) rep. by 2002 c. 26
(3)A resident magistrate shall sit in accordance with directions given by the[F4Lord Chief Justice].
(4)A resident magistrate may, in accordance with such directions, sit in any petty sessions district.
(5)Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the[F4Lord Chief Justice] may assign a resident magistrate to one or more petty sessions districts and may from time to time vary any such assignment.]
F3Words in s. 9(1)(b) substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 59(5), 148(1), Sch. 11 para. 6(1); S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(d)
F4Words in s. 9(3)(5) substituted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15(2), 148(1), Sch. 5 para.16; S.I. 2006/1014, art.2(a), Sch. 1 para. 12(a)
(1)F5The [F6 Lord Chancellor] may, …F7, appoint fit and proper persons, [F6 being persons who are eligible for appointment asF8, or have previously been, resident magistrates], to act as deputy resident magistrates during such period or periods asF5 the [F6 Lord Chancellor] may direct and subject toF5 such conditions as the [F6 Lord Chancellor] may impose.
(2)Any deputy resident magistrate may exercise and perform all the functions of a resident magistrate.
F9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F9S. 11 repealed (3.4.2006) by Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26), ss. 86, 87(1), Sch. 13; S.R. 2006/124, art. 2, Sch. paras. 9, 11(c)