Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978

54 The Supreme Court Rules Committee. U.K.

(1) There shall be a committee known as the Northern Ireland Supreme Court Rules Committee (in this Act referred to as the Rules Committee) which, subject to subsection (2), shall consist of—

(a) the Lord Chief Justice who shall be chairman;

(b) four judges of the High Court or the Court of Appeal nominated from time to time by the Lord Chief Justice;

(c) a practising member of the Bar of Northern Ireland nominated by the Lord Chancellor;

(d) one other practising member of the Bar of Northern Ireland nominated by the Council thereof;

(e) the president of the Incorporated Law Society of Northern Ireland or a member of the Council thereof nominated by him; and

(f) a practising solicitor nominated by that Council,

and shall have the functions conferred on it in relation to the making of rules of court by section 55.

(2) Where any member of the Rules Committee is unable to act, the Lord Chief Justice or, in the case of a member nominated by any other authority or body, that authority or body may nominate another qualified person to act temporarily in his place.

(3) Rules of court may be made and other powers of the Rules Committee exercised at a meeting of the Rules Committee by a majority consisting of not less than four members of whom the chairman of the meeting shall be one.

(4) In the absence of the Lord Chief Justice, the senior judge present shall be chairman of the meeting.

(5) The joint secretaries to the Rules Committee shall be such persons as the Lord Chancellor, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, may from time to time designate and one of the persons so designated shall be either the Principal Secretary to the Lord Chief Justice or another officer serving in the Supreme Court.

(6) Any expenses incurred by the Rules Committee shall be paid by the Lord Chancellor.