Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002

1. Introductory Text

2. Part 1 The Judiciary

   1. General

      1. 1. Guarantee of continued judicial independence

   2. Appointment and removal

      1. 2. Introductory

      2. 3. Judicial Appointments Commission

      3. 4. Appointment to most senior judicial offices

      4. 5. Appointment to listed judicial offices

      5. 5A. Disclosure of information to the Commission

      6. 6. Removal from most senior judicial offices

      7. 7. Removal from listed judicial offices

      8. 8. Tribunals for considering removal

      9. 9. Lay magistrates

   3. Magistrates

   4. The Ombudsman

      1. 9A. Judicial Appointments Ombudsman

      2. 9B. Complaints: interpretation

      3. 9C. Complaints to the Commission or the Lord Chancellor

      4. 9D. Complaints to the Ombudsman

      5. 9E. Report and recommendations

      6. 9F. Report procedure

      7. 9G. References by the Lord Chancellor

      8. 9H. Information

      9. 9I. Confidentiality in relation to judicial appointments and discipline

   5. Transfer of functions of justices of the peace

      1. 10. Transfer of functions of justices of the peace

      2. 11. Transfer of functions of lay panellists

   6. Lord Chief Justice

      1. 12. Role of Lord Chief Justice

      2. 13. Presiding county court judge

      3. 14. Presiding resident magistrate

      4. 15. Presiding lay magistrate

      5. 16. Complaints about holders of judicial office

      6. 17. Secretaries to Lord Chief Justice

   7. Other provisions

      1. 18. Qualification for appointment

      2. 19. Judicial oath or affirmation

      3. 20. Crown Solicitor

      4. 21. Judicial pensions: pension sharing

3. Part 2 Law Officers and Public Prosecution Service

   1. Attorney General

      1. 22. Attorney General

      2. 23. Terms of appointment of Attorney General

      3. 24. Removal of Attorney General

      4. 25. Participation by Attorney General in Assembly proceedings

      5. 26. Annual report by Attorney General

   2. Advocate General

      1. 27. Advocate General

      2. 28. Functions of Advocate General

   3. Public Prosecution Service

      1. 29. Public Prosecution Service

      2. 30. Director of Public Prosecutions

      3. 30A. Corporation sole etc

      4. 31. Conduct of prosecutions

      5. 31A. Conduct of extradition proceedings

      6. 32. Discontinuance of proceedings before court appearance

      7. 32A. Influencing a prosecutor

      8. 33. Consents to prosecutions

      9. 34. Police complaints

      10. 35. Information for Director

      11. 36. Exercise of functions by and on behalf of Service

      12. 37. Code for Prosecutors

      13. 38. Equality and non-discrimination

      14. 39. Reports by Director

   4. Relationship of Director and Attorney General

      1. 40. Superintendence and removal of Director

      2. 41. Transfer of functions etc.

      3. 42. Independence of Director

      4. 43. Appointment and removal of Director by Attorney General

   5. Supplementary

      1. 44. Interpretation

4. Part 3 Other New Institutions

   1. Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice

      1. 45. Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice

      2. 46. Functions of Chief Inspector

      3. 47. Further provisions about functions

      4. 48. Powers of inspectors

      5. 49. Reports

   2. Law Commission

      1. 50. Law Commission

      2. 51. Duties of Commission

      3. 52. Reports etc.

5. Part 4 Youth Justice

   1. Aims

      1. 53. Aims of youth justice system

   2. New orders

      1. 54. Reparation orders

      2. 55. Community responsibility orders

      3. 56. Custody care orders

   3. Youth conferences

      1. 57. Youth conferences and youth conference plans

      2. 58. Diversionary youth conferences

      3. 59. Court-ordered youth conferences

      4. 60. Youth conference orders

      5. 61. Legal aid for youth conferences

   4. Other provisions

      1. 62. Orders: enforcement etc.

      2. 63. Extension of youth justice system to 17 year olds

      3. 64. Juvenile justice centre orders for 17 year olds

      4. 65. Consultation about detention

6. Part 5 Miscellaneous

   1. Royal Arms and flags

      1. 66. Display of Royal Arms at courts

      2. 67. Flying of flags at court-houses

   2. Victims of crime

      1. 68. Information about discharge and temporary release of prisoners

      2. 69. Views on temporary release

      3. 69A. Information about discharge and leave of absence of mentally disordered persons

      4. 69B. Views on leave of absence

      5. 70. Supplementary

   3. Community safety

      1. 71. Community safety strategy

      2. 72. Local community safety partnerships

   4. Civil procedure

      1. 73. Constitution of Rules Committees

      2. 74. Appeals in small claims cases

      3. 75. Time limit for cases stated by county court

   5. Legal aid

      1. 76. Exceptional legal aid

      2. 77. Proceedings before coroner

   6. Court Service

      1. 78. Power to abolish Court Service

   7. Court security

      1. 79. Duty of Court Service to ensure court security

      2. 80. Powers and duties of court security officers

      3. 81. Protection of court security officers

7. Part 6 Supplementary

   1. 82. Excepted matters: judicial office-holders

   2. 83. Reserved matters: new institutions

   3. 84. Assembly Acts about judiciary, law officers and prosecutions

   4. 85. Minor and consequential amendments

   5. 86. Repeals and revocations

   6. 87. Commencement

   7. 88. Interpretation

   8. 89. Transitionals and savings

   9. 90. Statutory rules

   10. 91. Extent

   11. 92. Financial provision

   12. 93. Short title

8. SCHEDULES

   1. SCHEDULE 1

      Listed judicial offices

   2. SCHEDULE 2

      Judicial Appointments Commission

      1. 1. Members’ tenure

      2. 2. (1) Subject as follows, a non-judicial member of the Commission...

      3. 3. Salary etc. of non-judicial members

      4. 4. Staff

      5. 5. Annual report

      6. 6. Financial provisions

      7. 7. (1) The Commission must— (a) keep proper accounts and proper...

      8. 8. Committees and sub-committees

      9. 9. Proceedings

      10. 10. The validity of any proceedings of the Commission, or of...

      11. 11. Delegation

      12. 12. If the function of selecting a person for appointment, or...

      13. 13. Miscellaneous

      14. 14. The Commission may do anything, apart from borrowing money, which...

      15. 15. The application of the seal of the Commission is to...

      16. 16. Any contract or instrument which, if entered into or executed...

      17. 17. A document purporting to be— (a) duly executed by the...

      18. 18. Disqualification

      19. 19. In Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland...

      20. 20. Freedom of information

   3. SCHEDULE 3

      Appointment to listed judicial offices

      1. Part 1 Appointments by Her Majesty

         1. Application

            1. 1. This Part of this Schedule applies to a listed judicial...

         2. Process

            1. 2. (1) Her Majesty's power to appoint a person to a...

      2. Part 2 Appointments by the Commission

         1. Application

            1. 3. This Part of this Schedule applies to a listed judicial...

         2. Process

            1. 4. (1) The Commission is responsible for the selection of persons...

      3. Part 3 Maximum numbers

         1. 5. (1) This Part of this Schedule applies to a listed...

      4. Part 4 General provision about selections

         1. 6. (1) The selection under this Schedule of a person to...

   4. SCHEDULE 3A

      The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Ombudsman

      1. The Ombudsman

         1. 1. (1) A person must not be appointed as the Ombudsman...

         2. 2. (1) In this Schedule “ practising ” is to be...

      2. Term of office etc. of Ombudsman

         1. 3. (1) The Ombudsman must be appointed for a fixed period....

         2. 4. A person— (a) may not be appointed as the Ombudsman...

         3. 5. (1) The Ombudsman may at any time—

      3. Salary, allowances and expenses

         1. 6. (1) The Lord Chancellor may— (a) pay to the Ombudsman...

      4. Acting Ombudsman

         1. 7. (1) The Lord Chancellor may appoint a person to exercise...

      5. Status of the Ombudsman

         1. 8. The person for the time being holding the office of...

      6. Powers of the Ombudsman

         1. 9. (1) The Ombudsman does not have power to do any...

      7. Arrangements for assistance

         1. 10. (1) The Ombudsman may make arrangements with such persons as...

      8. Arrangements by the Lord Chancellor

         1. 11. Unless the Ombudsman has made arrangements under paragraph 10, the...

      9. Delegation of functions

         1. 12. (1) The Ombudsman may delegate any functions to—

      10. Financial provisions and directions

          1. 13. (1) Expenditure incurred by the Ombudsman in the discharge of...

      11. Code of conduct

          1. 14. The Lord Chancellor may issue and from time to time...

      12. Reports

          1. 15. (1) The Ombudsman must, as soon as practicable after the...

      13. Documentary evidence

          1. 16. A document purporting to be an instrument issued by the...

      14. General

          1. 17. (1) Financial year in this Schedule, means—

   5. SCHEDULE 4

      Functions of justices of the peace

      1. 1. Retained functions

      2. 2. Shared functions

      3. 3. Functions to be exercisable only by resident magistrates

      4. 4. Amendments: general

      5. 5. The Lord Chancellor may , after consultation with the Lord...

      6. 5A. The Lord Chief Justice may nominate any of the following...

      7. 6. So far as may be appropriate in consequence of the...

      8. 7. Specific amendments

      9. 8. In section 5(1) of the General Dealers (Ireland) Act 1903...

      10. 9. In section 26(4) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954...

      11. 10. In section 189(1) of the Army Act 1955 (3 &...

      12. 11. In section 189(1) of the Air Force Act 1955 (3...

      13. 12. In sections 47(2) and 110(2) of the Naval Discipline Act...

      14. 13. In section 110(2) of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland)...

      15. 14. In section 12A(2) of the Magistrates’ Courts Act (Northern Ireland)...

      16. 15. In section 21 of the Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern...

      17. 16. The Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23) has effect...

      18. 17. (1) Section 103 (appointment of justices of the peace) is...

      19. 18. After that section insert— Power of court of record to...

      20. 19. In Article 84(6) of the Pollution Control and Local Government...

      21. 20. The Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I....

      22. 21. In Article 2(2)(b) (meaning of “magistrates’ court”), for “justice of...

      23. 22. (1) Article 3 (functions of justices etc.) is amended as...

      24. 23. In Article 4 (local jurisdiction of justice of the peace),...

      25. 24. In Articles 5 and 6 (immunity)— (a) for “justice of...

      26. 25. In Article 6A (costs)— (a) for “justice of the peace”...

      27. 26. In Article 7 (clerk’s immunity in respect of warrant to...

      28. 27. In Article 10(1) and (1A) (defrayal of expenses)—

      29. 28. In Article 18(4) (procedure)— (a) for “other justice of the...

      30. 29. In Article 42(1)(a) and (b) (reading of depositions), for “other...

      31. 30. In Article 114(2) (warrants: postponement of issue and stay of...

      32. 31. In Article 126(1) (proof of service), for “other justice of...

      33. 32. In Article 156 (validity of documents)— (a) for “other justice...

      34. 33. In Article 158(1) (execution of warrants), for “other justice of...

      35. 34. In Article 160(1) (misbehaviour in court), for “justice of the...

      36. 35. In paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 (matters which may be...

      37. 36. In Article 165(2) of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989...

      38. 37. In section 244(6)(a)(ii) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995...

      39. 38. In Schedule 2 to the Juries (Northern Ireland) Order 1996...

      40. 39. In section 9(5) of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c....

      41. 40. In section 81(1) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act...

   6. SCHEDULE 5

   7. SCHEDULE 6

      Office-holders required to take judicial oath

   8. SCHEDULE 7

      Functions of Advocate General

      1. 1. Assembly Bills

      2. 2. Devolution issues

      3. 3. In Schedule 8 to the Government of Wales Act 1998...

      4. 4. In Schedule 6 to the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46)...

      5. 5. Human rights

      6. 6. In section 107(3) of the Government of Wales Act 1998...

      7. 7. In section 100(2) of the Scotland Act 1998 (similar provision...

      8. 7A. In section 8 of the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2004...

      9. 8. Varying retrospective decisions

      10. 9. In section 110(8) of the Government of Wales Act 1998...

      11. 10. In section 102(7) of the Scotland Act 1998 (notice to...

      12. 11. Suspension of devolved government

      13. 12. Acting as Attorney General for Northern Ireland during vacancy

      14. 13. Consultation about appointment of Attorney General for Northern Ireland

      15. 14. Crown Solicitor

      16. 15. Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice

      17. 16. (1) Section 47 (functions: consultation and consent requirements etc.) is...

      18. 17. In section 49(5) (copies of reports relating to Public Prosecution...

      19. 18. Life sentence prisoners’ representatives

      20. 19. Special advocates

      21. 20. In paragraph 7(2) of Schedule 2 to the Northern Ireland...

      22. 21. Scheduled offences

      23. 22. In section 72(2)(b) (regulations providing for time limits to cease...

      24. 23. In Schedule 9 (certification that offence is not scheduled offence),...

      25. 24. Consent to prosecution

      26. 25. In section 6(5) of the Marine, &c., Broadcasting (Offences) Act...

      27. 26. In section 1(3) of the Genocide Act 1969 (c. 12)...

      28. 27. In section 2(1) of the Biological Weapons Act 1974 (c....

      29. 28. In section 11 of the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975 (c....

      30. 29. In section 2(1) of the Internationally Protected Persons Act 1978...

      31. 30. In section 3(1) of the Nuclear Material (Offences) Act 1983...

      32. 31. In section 135 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c....

      33. 32. In section 9(1) of the Official Secrets Act 1989 (c....

      34. 33. In Article 8(11) of the Iraq and Kuwait (United Nations...

      35. 34. In section 31(1) of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996 (c....

      36. 35. In section 117(3)(b) of the Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11)...

      37. 36. In— (a) section 55 (proceedings for offence under section 47...

      38. 37. Section 33 of this Act applies in relation to the...

   9. SCHEDULE 8

      Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice

      1. 1. Chief Inspector’s tenure

      2. 2. Salary etc. of Chief Inspector

      3. 3. Staff

      4. 4. Annual report

      5. 5. Financial provisions

      6. 6. (1) The Chief Inspector must— (a) keep proper accounts and...

      7. 7. Delegation of functions

      8. 8. Inspections of Police Service

      9. 9. Miscellaneous

      10. 10. (1) The Chief Inspector is not to be regarded—

      11. 11. The Chief Inspector may do anything, apart from borrowing money,...

      12. 12. The application of the seal of the Chief Inspector is...

      13. 13. A document purporting to be— (a) duly executed by the...

      14. 14. Disqualification

      15. 15. In Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland...

      16. 16. Freedom of information

   10. SCHEDULE 9

       Law Commission

       1. 1. Commissioners’ tenure

       2. 2. Commissioners holding judicial office

       3. 3. Salary etc. of Commissioners not holding full-time judicial office

       4. 4. Staff

       5. 5. Financial provisions

       6. 6. (1) The Commission must— (a) keep proper accounts and proper...

       7. 7. Miscellaneous

       8. 8. (1) The Commission is not to be regarded—

       9. 9. The Commission may do anything, apart from borrowing money, which...

       10. 10. The application of the seal of the Commission is to...

       11. 11. Any contract or instrument which, if entered into or executed...

       12. 12. A document purporting to be— (a) duly executed by the...

       13. 13. Disqualification

       14. 14. In Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland...

       15. 15. Freedom of information

   11. SCHEDULE 10

       Youth justice orders: enforcement etc.

   12. SCHEDULE 11

       Extension of youth justice system to 17 year olds

       1. 1. Costs in Criminal Cases Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 10 (N.I.))

       2. 2. Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 29 (N.I.))

       3. 3. Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1908 (N.I. 27))

       4. 4. Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26))

       5. 5. Treatment of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1344 (N.I. 15))

       6. 6. Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (S.I. 1994/2795 (N.I. 15))

       7. 7. Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I 1996/3160 (N.I. 24))

       8. 8. In Article 5(9) (conditional discharge in case of offender under...

       9. 9. In Article 6(2) (effect of discharge where offender 17 or...

       10. 10. In Article 7(1)(b) (power to require offender between 14 and...

       11. 11. In Article 9(5) (court not to dispense with need for...

       12. 12. In Article 21(3) (court not to dispense with need for...

       13. 13. In Article 29(4)(c) (fixing of fine where parent or guardian...

       14. 14. In Article 31(3) (false statements as to financial circumstances in...

       15. 15. In Article 34(2) (copy of report of probation officer to...

       16. 16. Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1504 (N.I. 9))

       17. 17. In Article 2(2) (interpretation), in the definitions of “adult” and...

       18. 18. In Article 30(2) and (3) (powers of youth court where...

       19. 19. In Article 45 (punishment of certain grave crimes)—

       20. 20. In Article 53 (parental responsibility for children in juvenile justice...

       21. 21. In Article 54 (escapes from juvenile justice centres)—

       22. 22. Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11)

       23. 23. In section 70(5) (young persons charged with scheduled offence and...

       24. 24. In section 78(3) (punishment of children on conviction on indictment...

   13. SCHEDULE 12

       Minor and consequential amendments

       1. 1. Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945 (c. 15 (N.I.))

       2. 2. Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c. 33 (N.I.))

       3. 3. County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 (c. 25 (N.I.))

       4. 4. (1) Section 102 (appointment and assignment of judges) is amended...

       5. 5. In section 106(2) (salary payable to judge from date on...

       6. 6. Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (c. 14 (N.I.))

       7. 7. Law Commissions Act 1965 (c. 22)

       8. 8. In section 1(1) (purpose of Law Commission), after “of the...

       9. 9. In section 3(4) (duty of Law Commission and Scottish Law...

       10. 10. Administration of Justice Act 1973 (c. 15)

       11. 11. In section 9(5) (judicial salaries), after “Salaries payable” insert “...

       12. 12. In section 12(1) (retirement of higher judiciary in event of...

       13. 13. Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23)

       14. 14. Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1908 (N.I. 27))

       15. 15. Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1980 (c. 47)

       16. 16. Legal Aid, Advice and Assistance (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/228 (N.I. 8))

       17. 17. In Article 1(3) (power to bring into force paragraphs 1(b)...

       18. 18. In Article 4(2) (relationship between legal advice and assistance and...

       19. 19. In Article 13(3) (remuneration of persons giving legal aid), for...

       20. 20. After Article 15 insert— Position of providers, parties etc. Legal...

       21. 21. In Article 26(3) (indemnity), after “12” insert “ or a...

       22. 22. In Article 27 (interpretation), after the definition of “legal aid”...

       23. 23. In Article 28(2) (free legal aid in the magistrates’ court:...

       24. 24. In Article 31 (resolution of doubts), after “28,” insert “...

       25. 25. In Article 32 (statements for purposes of free legal aid),...

       26. 26. In Article 36(3) (rules about free legal aid in criminal...

       27. 27. In Article 39 (interpretation of Part 3)—

       28. 28. In the heading of Schedule 1 (proceedings for which legal...

       29. 29. Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I 1981/1675 (N.I. 26))

       30. 30. In Article 47(6) (period of remand), after “1998” insert ;...

       31. 31. (1) Article 140 (appeals to county court) is amended as...

       32. 32. Child Abduction (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (S.I. 1985/1638 (N.I. 17))

       33. 33. In Article 3(7) (application of offence of abduction of child...

       34. 34. (1) Paragraph 4 of the Schedule (modifications of Article 3...

       35. 35. Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (S.I. 1986/ 595 (N.I. 4))

       36. 36. In Article 44(8) (orders which can be made in conjunction...

       37. 37. In Article 50A(7) (remitting persons for trial following detention in...

       38. 38. In Article 53(5)(a) (removal to hospital of certain persons serving...

       39. 39. (1) Article 56 (further provision as to prisoners under sentence)...

       40. 40. (1) Article 61 (interpretation) is amended as follows.

       41. 41. Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33)

       42. 42. Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12))

       43. 43. (1) Article 2(2) (interpretation) is amended as follows.

       44. 44. In Article 2(5) (definition of “custodial establishment”), after “juvenile justice...

       45. 45. In Article 19(1)(ca) (entry for purpose of arrest), after “juvenile...

       46. 46. In Article 39(8) (place of safety), for “means any juvenile...

       47. 47. Child Support Act 1991 (c. 48)

       48. 48. Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 7)

       49. 49. Criminal Appeal Act 1995 (c. 35)

       50. 50. Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2))

       51. 51. In Article 70(7) (provisions which do not apply to those...

       52. 52. In paragraph 4(1)(b) of Schedule 4 (directions under education supervision...

       53. 54. Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/3160 (N.I. 24))

       54. 55. (1) Article 2(2) (interpretation) is amended as follows.

       55. 56. In Article 9(3) (procedural requirements for community orders), at the...

       56. 57. In Article 18(1) (restriction on imposing sentences of imprisonment or...

       57. 58. In Article 19(3) (court not prevented from passing custodial sentence...

       58. 59. (1) Schedule 2 (enforcement of community orders) is amended as...

       59. 60. Sex Offenders Act 1997 (c. 51)

       60. 61. Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (c. 32)

       61. 62. Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47)

       62. 63. In section 75(3) (duty on public authorities to have regard...

       63. 64. In section 76(7) (discrimination by public authorities), after “Probation Board...

       64. 65. (1) Schedule 3 (reserved matters) is amended as follows.

       65. 66. Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1504 (N.I. 9))

       66. 67. (1) Article 2 (interpretation) is amended as follows.

       67. 68. In Article 8(3) and (4) (child not released under Article...

       68. 69. (1) Article 13 (remand in custody) is amended as follows....

       69. 70. In Article 30(3) (powers of youth court when child becomes...

       70. 71. In Article 37(4) (requirements of attendance centre orders), for the...

       71. 72. In Article 39(1) (juvenile justice centre orders)—

       72. 73. (1) Article 41 (breach of supervision requirements of juvenile justice...

       73. 75. In Article 56(5)(a) (power to provide for functions of Juvenile...

       74. 76. Northern Ireland Act 2000 (c. 1)

       75. 77. In section 1(4) (effect on offices of suspension of devolved...

       76. 78. In section 3 (restoration of devolved government), insert at the...

       77. 79. In the Schedule (provisions applicable during suspension of devolved government),...

       78. 80. Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11)

       79. 81. Regulatory Reform Act 2001 (c. 6)

       80. 82. Constitutional Reform Act 2005

   14. SCHEDULE 13

       Repeals and revocations