- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978, Section 47 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 07 September 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):
(1)All proceedings in the Crown Court shall be heard and disposed of before a single judge, and—
(a)any Crown Court business may be conducted at any place in Northern Ireland;
(b)sittings of the Crown Court at any place may be continuous or intermittent or occasional;
(c)judges may sit simultaneously to take any number of different cases in the same or in different places, and all or any of them may adjourn cases from time to time and may do so from place to place at any time.
(2)The judges of the High Court and the county court shall sit in the Crown Court in accordance with directions given by the [F1Lord Chief Justice] and the cases or classes of cases suitable for allocation to judges of the High Court and to county court judges respectively and all other matters relating to the distribution of Crown Court business shall be determined in accordance with directions given by the [F2Lord Chief Justice].
(3)The places at which the Crown Court sits and the days and times when the Crown Court sits at any place shall be determined in accordance with directions given by the [F3Lord Chief Justice].
(4)Subject to [F4 section 66 (2) of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (subpoenas not to issue in certain criminal cases) and to]. any provision contained in or having effect under this Act, the Crown Court shall, in relation to the attendance and examination of witnesses, any contempt of court, the enforcement of its orders and all other matters incidental to its jurisdiction, have the like powers, rights and authority as the High Court or the county court.
(5)Officers of the Crown Court shall be responsible for the keeping of the records of the proceedings of the court, the notification to those concerned of the place and time appointed for any proceedings or other business and such other formal or administrative matters as may be specified by directions given by the Lord Chancellor [F5after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice].
(6)The Royal Ulster Constabulary shall give effect to any orders or directions which may be given to it by the Crown Court.
[F6(7)The Lord Chief Justice may nominate any of the following to exercise his functions under this section—
(a)the holder of one of the offices listed in Schedule 1 to the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002;
(b)a Lord Justice of Appeal (as defined in section 88 of that Act).]
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 47(2) substituted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15(2), 148(1), Sch. 5 para. 24(2)(a); S. I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 12(a)
F2Words in s. 47(2) substituted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15(2), 148(1), Sch. 5 para. 24(2)(b); S. I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 12(a)
F3Words in s. 47(3) substituted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15(2), 148(1), Sch. 5 para. 24(3); S.I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 12(a)
F4Words in s. 47(4) inserted (4.7.1996) by virtue of 1996 c. 25, ss. 79(4), Sch. 4, paras. 1, 28 (by virtue of which provisions, the 1996 Act has effect subject to the modification that in its application to N.I. for s. 66(3)(4) of that Act there is subtituted s. 66(3)(4) as set out in Sch. 4 para. 28 of the 1996 Act)
F5Words in s. 47(5) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15(2), 148(1), Sch. 5 para. 24(4); S. I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 12(a)
F6S. 47(7) inserted (3.4.2006) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 15(2), 148(1), Sch. 5 para. 24(5); S. I. 2006/1014, art. 2(a), Sch. 1 para. 12(a)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1S. 47(5) transfer of functions (12.4.2010) by The Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), art. 1(2), Sch. 17 para. 6(b) (with arts. 28-31)
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: