This Act may be cited as the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978.

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.

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such adaptations of those provisions or any provisions of this Act then in force, and such savings of the provisions repealed by Schedule 7, as appear to him to be necessary or expedient in consequence of the partial operation of this Act (whether before or after the day appointed by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).

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.