Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978

7 Further assistance for transaction of judicial business

(1) A person who not being a judge of the High Court or the Court of Appeal—

(a) holds or has held the office of a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and before his appointment to that office had practised for not less than ten years at the Bar of Northern Ireland ; or

(b) has held the office of a judge of the High Court or the Court of Appeal,

may at any time at the request of the Lord Chancellor sit and act as a judge of the High Court or the Court of Appeal.

(2) A county court judge shall, if requested to do so by the Lord Chancellor, sit and act as a judge of the High Court.

(3) If it appears to the Lord Chancellor that it is expedient as a temporary measure to make an appointment under this subsection in order to facilitate the disposal of business in the High Court or the Crown Court he may appoint a person qualified for appointment as a judge of the High Court to sit and act as a judge of the High Court.

(4) For any period during which a person who does not hold office as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary or as a county court judge sits and acts under this section there may be paid to him such remuneration and allowances as the Lord Chancellor may, with the concurrence of the Minister for the Civil Service, determine.