9 Appointment 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 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.