Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002
2002 c. 26
An Act to make provision about the judiciary in Northern Ireland and to amend section 6 of the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876; to make provision about the law officers and other legal officers and the courts in Northern Ireland; to establish a Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland, a Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland and a Northern Ireland Law Commission; to amend the law of youth justice in Northern Ireland; to make provision for making available to victims of crime information about the release of offenders in Northern Ireland; to make provision about community safety in Northern Ireland; to amend the law of legal aid in Northern Ireland; and for connected purposes.
[24th July 2002]
B e it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
(1) The following persons must uphold the continued independence of the judiciary—
(a) the First Minister,
(b) the deputy First Minister,
(c) Northern Ireland Ministers, and
(d) all with responsibility for matters relating to the judiciary or otherwise to the administration of justice, where that responsibility is to be discharged only in or as regards Northern Ireland.
(2) The following particular duty is imposed for the purpose of upholding that independence.
(3) The First Minister, the deputy First Minister and Northern Ireland Ministers must not seek to influence particular judicial decisions through any special access to the judiciary.
(4) In this section “the judiciary” includes the judiciary of any of the following—
(a) the Supreme Court;
(b) any other court established under the law of any part of the United Kingdom;
(c) any international court.
(5) In subsection (4) “international court” means the International Court of Justice or any other court or tribunal which exercises jurisdiction, or performs functions of a judicial nature, in pursuance of—
(a) an agreement to which the United Kingdom or Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom is a party, or
(b) a resolution of the Security Council or General Assembly of the United Nations.
(1) Sections 3 to 8 make provision about appointment to and removal from—
(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b) the offices listed in Schedule 1.
(2) The Lord Chancellor may by order amend Schedule 1 by—
(a) adding an office (other than the office of Lord Chief Justice or Lord Justice of Appeal),
(b) omitting an office, or
(c) altering the description of an office.
(3) No order under subsection (2) may be made without the agreement of the Lord Chief Justice.
(4) An order under subsection (2) may make appropriate consequential amendments in any enactment or instrument (whenever passed or made).
(5) In this Act—
...
“listed judicial office” means an office listed in Schedule 1, and
“protected judicial office” means the office of Lord Chief Justice, the office of Lord Justice of Appeal or a listed judicial office.
(1) There is to be a body corporate known as the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission.
(2) The Commission is to consist of—
(a) a chairman, and
(b) twelve other members appointed by the Lord Chancellor.
(3) Schedule 2 makes further provision about the Commission.
(4) The Lord Chief Justice is to be the chairman of the Commission; but for any time during which—
(a) the office of Lord Chief Justice is vacant, or
(b) he is not available,
the senior Lord Justice of Appeal who is available is to act as the chairman (whether or not he is already a member).
(5) The following are to be appointed as the other members—
(a) five persons nominated by the Lord Chief Justice (referred to in this section and Schedule 2 as “judicial members”),
(b) a barrister nominated by the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland and a solicitor nominated by the Law Society of Northern Ireland (so referred to as “legal profession members”), and
(c) five persons who do not hold (and have never held) a protected judicial office and are not (and have never been) barristers or solicitors (so referred to as “lay members”);
and a reference in Schedule 2 to a non-judicial member is to a member who is either a legal profession member or a lay member.
(6) The judicial members are to be—
(a) a Lord Justice of Appeal,
(b) a judge of the High Court,
(c) a county court judge,
(d) a resident magistrate, and
(e) a lay magistrate.
(7) A person may not be appointed to be a lay member unless he has declared in writing his commitment to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means.
(8) It is the duty of—
(a) the Lord Chancellor, and
(b) those responsible for making nominations under subsection (5)(a) and (b),
to make such arrangements in connection with the exercise of their functions under this section as will, so far as is practicable, secure that the membership of the Commission is reflective of the community in Northern Ireland.
(1) Information which is held by or on behalf of a permitted person (whether obtained before or after this section comes into force) may be disclosed to the Commission or a committee of the Commission for the purposes of selection under Schedule 3.
(2) A disclosure under this section is not to be taken to breach any restriction on the disclosure of information (however imposed).
(3) But nothing in this section authorises the making of a disclosure—
(a) which contravenes the the data protection legislation, or
(b) which is prohibited by any of Parts 1 to 7 or Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.
(4) This section does not affect a power to disclose which exists apart from this section.
(5) The following are permitted persons—
(a) a chief officer of police of a police force in England and Wales;
(b) the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland;
(c) the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland;
(d) the Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service;
(e) the Director General of the National Crime Squad;
(f) the Commissioners of Inland Revenue;
(g) the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.
(6) The Lord Chancellor may by order designate as permitted persons other persons who exercise functions which he considers are of a public nature (including a body or person discharging regulatory functions in relation to any description of activities).
(7) Information must not be disclosed under this section on behalf of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue or on behalf of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise unless the Commissioners concerned authorise the disclosure.
(8) The power to authorise a disclosure under subsection (7) may be delegated (either generally or for a specific purpose)—
(a) in the case of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, to an officer of the Board of Inland Revenue,
(b) in the case of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, to a customs officer.
(9) For the purposes of this section a customs officer is a person commissioned by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise under section 6(3) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979.
(10) In this section, “the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3 of that Act).
(1) A person holding a listed judicial office may be removed from office (and suspended from office pending a decision whether to remove him) but only in accordance with this section.
(2) The power to remove or suspend him is exercisable by the Lord Chief Justice.
(3) He may only be removed if a tribunal convened under section 8 has reported to the Lord Chief Justice recommending that he be removed on the ground of misbehaviour or inability to perform the functions of the office.
(4) He may only be suspended if the tribunal, at any time when it is considering whether to recommend his removal, has recommended to the Lord Chief Justice that he be suspended.
(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(6) If he is suspended he may not perform any of the functions of the office until the decision whether to remove him has been taken (but his other rights as holder of the office are unaffected).
(6A) If the Lord Chief Justice does not remove or suspend a person (“P”) in accordance with a recommendation as mentioned in subsection (3) or (4), the Lord Chief Justice must notify the following of the Lord Chief Justice's reasons for not removing or suspending P—
(a) P;
(b) the tribunal;
(c) if the tribunal was convened by the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Ombudsman, the Ombudsman.
(7) Nothing in subsections (1) to (6A) applies to a judge of the High Court appointed before the coming into force of this section (as to the removal and suspension of whom see section 12C of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23) ...).
(8) But, subject to that, those subsections apply whatever the date of a person’s appointment.
(1) There is to be a Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Ombudsman.
(2) The Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman is, by virtue of holding that office, the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Ombudsman.
(3) Schedule 3A makes further provision about the Ombudsman.
(1) This section applies for the purposes of this Part.
(2) A Commission complaint is a complaint by a qualifying complainant of maladministration by the Commission or a committee of the Commission.
(3) A departmental complaint is a complaint by a qualifying complainant of maladministration by the Lord Chancellor ... in connection with any of the following—
(a) recommendation for or appointment to a listed judicial office;
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4) A qualifying complainant is a complainant who claims to have been adversely affected, as an applicant for selection or as a person selected under this Part or paragraph 2A of Schedule 11 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, by the maladministration complained of.
9C Complaints to the Commission or the Lord Chancellor
(1) The Commission must make arrangements for investigating any Commission complaint made to it.
(2) The Lord Chancellor must make arrangements for investigating any departmental complaint made to him.
(3) Arrangements under this section need not apply to a complaint made more than 28 days after the matter complained of.
(1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply to a complaint which the complainant—
(a) has made to the Commission or Lord Chancellor in accordance with arrangements under section 9C, and
(b) makes to the Ombudsman not more than 28 days after being notified of the Commission's or Lord Chancellor's decision on the complaint.
(2) If the Ombudsman considers that investigation of the complaint is not necessary, he must inform the complainant.
(3) Otherwise he must investigate the complaint.
(4) The Ombudsman may investigate a complaint which the complainant—
(a) has made to the Commission or the Lord Chancellor in accordance with arrangements under section 9C, and
(b) makes to the Ombudsman at any time.
(5) The Ombudsman may investigate a transferred complaint made to him, and no such complaint may be made under the Judicial Appointments Order after the commencement of this section.
(6) The Judicial Appointments Order is the Judicial Appointments Order in Council 2001, which sets out the functions of Her Majesty's Commissioners for Judicial Appointments.
(7) A transferred complaint is a complaint that lay to those Commissioners (whether or not it was made to them) in respect of the application of procedures for appointment to listed judicial offices before the commencement of this section, but not a complaint that those Commissioners had declined to investigate or on which they had concluded their investigation.
(8) Any complaint to the Ombudsman under this section must be in a form approved by him.
(1) The Ombudsman must prepare a report on any complaint he has investigated under section 9D.
(2) The report must state—
(a) what findings the Ombudsman has made;
(b) whether he considers the complaint should be upheld in whole or part;
(c) if he does, what if any action he recommends should be taken by the Commission or the Lord Chancellor as a result of the complaint.
(3) The recommendations that may be made under subsection (2)(c) include recommendations for the payment of compensation.
(4) Such a recommendation must relate to loss which appears to the Ombudsman to have been suffered by the complainant as a result of maladministration and not as a result of any failure to be appointed to an office to which the complaint related.
(1) This section applies to a report under section 9E.
(2) The Ombudsman must submit a draft of the report—
(a) if the complaint was a Commission complaint, to the First Minister and deputy First Minister and to the Commission;
(b) otherwise, to the Lord Chancellor.
(3) In finalising the report the Ombudsman—
(a) must have regard to any proposal for changes in the draft report which is made—
(i) if the complaint was a Commission complaint, by the First Minister and deputy First Minister acting jointly or by the Commission;
(ii) otherwise, by the Lord Chancellor;
(b) must include in the report a statement of any such proposal not given effect to.
(4) The report must be signed by the Ombudsman.
(5) If the complaint was a Commission complaint the Ombudsman must send the report in duplicate to the First Minister and deputy First Minister and to the Commission.
(6) Otherwise the Ombudsman must send the report to the Lord Chancellor.
(7) The Ombudsman must send a copy of the report to the complainant, but that copy must not include information—
(a) which relates to an identified or identifiable individual other than the complainant, and
(b) whose disclosure by the Ombudsman to the complainant would (apart from this subsection) be contrary to section 9I.
The Commission and the Lord Chancellor must provide the Ombudsman with such information as he may reasonably require relating to the subject matter of an investigation under section 9D ....
9I Confidentiality in relation to judicial appointments and discipline
(1) A person who obtains confidential information, or to whom confidential information is provided, under or for the purposes of a relevant provision must not disclose it except with lawful authority.
(2) These are the relevant provisions—
(a) sections 12 to 12C of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (appointment and removal of Lord Chief Justice, Lords Justices of Appeal and judges of High Court);
(b) sections 3, ... 7 and 9 to 9H of this Act (appointment and removal of judicial officers, and appointment and removal of lay magistrates);
(ba) Schedule 3 to this Act and paragraph 2A of Schedule 11 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998;
(c) sections 134 and 135 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (removal from judicial offices);
(d) section 16 of this Act (complaints about judicial officers);
(3) Information is confidential if it relates to an identified or identifiable individual (a “subject”).
(4) Confidential information is disclosed with lawful authority only if and to the extent that any of the following applies—
(a) the disclosure is with the consent of each person who is a subject of the information (but this is subject to subsection (5));
(b) the disclosure is for (and is necessary for) the exercise by any person of functions under a relevant provision or a decision whether to exercise them;
(c) the disclosure is required, under rules of court or a court order, for the purposes of legal proceedings of any description.
(5) An opinion or other information given by one identified or identifiable individual (A) about another (B)—
(a) is information that relates to both;
(b) must not be disclosed to B without A's consent.
(6) This section does not prevent the disclosure with the agreement of the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice of information as to disciplinary action taken in accordance with a relevant provision.
(7) This section does not prevent the disclosure of information which is already, or has previously been, available to the public from other sources.
(8) A contravention of this section in respect of any information is actionable, subject to the defences and other incidents applying to actions for breach of statutory duty.
(9) But it is actionable only at the suit of a person who is a subject of the information.
(1) Subject as follows, the functions of justices of the peace (including their functions as members of a court) are transferred to lay magistrates.
(2) A lay magistrate sitting out of petty sessions may not exercise any function conferred or imposed on a magistrates’ court in relation to the conduct of proceedings for an offence, apart from a function to which subsection (3) applies.
(3) This subsection applies to —
(a) any function of issuing a warrant or summons,
(b) any function of remanding an accused who has not previously been remanded for the offence,
(c) any function of ordering a person to enter into a recognisance to keep the peace or to be of good behaviour,
(d) the function under section 21(3) of the Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 29 (N.I.)) (committal where offence committed during suspended sentence etc.),
(e) the function under Article 5(4) of the Treatment of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1976 (S.I. 1976/226 (N.I. 4)) (committal where offence committed after early discharge),
(f) the functions under section 51(8) of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23) (committal etc. of person in custody in pursuance of Crown Court warrant),
(g) any function relating to perjury, misbehaviour or failure to testify in proceedings before a lay magistrate exercising any function to which this subsection applies,
(h) any function relating to adjournment of, or any other ancillary matter concerning, such proceedings,
(i) the function of granting a criminal aid certificate in respect of a person where the lay magistrate is dealing, or has previously dealt, with him by virtue of paragraph (b), (c) or (g), and
(j) the function of granting a criminal aid certificate in relation to an appeal against anything done by a lay magistrate by virtue of paragraph (c) or (g).
(4) The Lord Chancellor may , after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice, by order amend subsection (3).
(5) Subsection (1) is subject to paragraphs 1 to 3 of Schedule 4 which specify functions which are to remain functions of justices of the peace (instead of, or as well as, becoming functions of lay magistrates) or to become functions only of resident magistrates.
(6) Schedule 4 also contains amendments consequential on this section.
(7) In this section references to a function are to a function conferred or imposed by an enactment or instrument passed or made before the time when this section comes into force (including a function conferred or imposed by a provision not in force at that time).
(1) In paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 2 to the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 34 (N.I.)) (composition of juvenile courts), for “persons selected from one or more of the panels mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)” substitute “ lay magistrates for the county court division which includes the petty sessions district or districts for which the court acts or any other county court division which adjoins that county court division ”.
(2) In section 178 of that Act (assessors for county court in appeals from juvenile courts)—
(a) in subsection (1), for “persons selected from one or more than one of the appropriate juvenile court panels,” substitute “ appropriate lay magistrates, at least one of whom (where practicable) is a woman, ”,
(b) in subsection (2), for “person” (in each place) substitute “ lay magistrate ”, and
(c) in subsection (4), for the definition of “the appropriate juvenile courts panels” substitute—
“appropriate lay magistrate” means a lay magistrate for the county court division for which the county court is held or any other county court division which adjoins that county court division;
.
(3) In Article 165(2)(i) of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2)) (rules of court: discharge of functions of court of summary jurisdiction by member of juvenile court panel), for “member of a juvenile court panel” substitute “ lay magistrate ”.
(1A) The Lord Chief Justice holds the office of President of the Courts of Northern Ireland and is Head of the Judiciary of Northern Ireland.
(1B) As President of the Courts of Northern Ireland he is responsible—
(a) for representing the views of the judiciary of Northern Ireland to Parliament, the Lord Chancellor and Ministers of the Crown generally;
(b) for representing the views of the judiciary of Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the First Minister and deputy First Minister and Northern Ireland Ministers;
(c) for the maintenance of appropriate arrangements for the welfare, training and guidance of the judiciary of Northern Ireland within the resources made available by the Lord Chancellor;
(d) for the maintenance of appropriate arrangements for the deployment of the judiciary of Northern Ireland and the allocation of work within courts.
(1C) The President of the Courts of Northern Ireland is president of the courts listed in subsection (1D) and is entitled to sit in any of those courts.
(1D) The courts are—
the Court of Appeal
the High Court
the Crown Court
the county courts
the magistrates' courts.
the coroners' courts
(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(1) After section 102 of the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 (c. 25 (N.I.)) insert—
Presiding judge
102A (1) The Lord Chief Justice must appoint one of the judges to be the Presiding judge with responsibility for the county courts and the other judges and the deputy judges.
(2) The person appointed as Presiding judge holds that office in accordance with the terms of his appointment.
(3) If the office of Presiding judge becomes vacant, the Lord Chief Justice may appoint a judge to act as Presiding judge, pending a new appointment.
(2) The Lord Chief Justice may delegate any of his functions relating to county courts to the Presiding county court judge.
(1) The Lord Chief Justice must appoint one of the resident magistrates to be the Presiding resident magistrate with responsibility for the magistrates’ courts, the other resident magistrates and the deputy resident magistrates.
(2) The person appointed as Presiding resident magistrate holds that office in accordance with the terms of his appointment.
(3) If the office of Presiding resident magistrate becomes vacant, the Lord Chief Justice may appoint a resident magistrate to act as Presiding resident magistrate, pending a new appointment.
(4) The Lord Chief Justice may delegate any of his functions relating to magistrates’ courts to the Presiding resident magistrate.
(1) The Lord Chief Justice must appoint one of the lay magistrates to be the Presiding lay magistrate with responsibility for the other lay magistrates.
(2) The person appointed as Presiding lay magistrate holds that office in accordance with the terms of his appointment.
(3) If the office of Presiding lay magistrate becomes vacant, the Lord Chief Justice may appoint a lay magistrate to act as Presiding lay magistrate, pending a new appointment.
(1) The Lord Chief Justice must prepare a code of practice relating to the handling of complaints against any person who holds a protected judicial office.
(2) The code must include provision for any complaints appearing to the Lord Chief Justice—
(a) to involve a serious allegation of misbehaviour or inability to perform the functions of an office, and
(b) to have a reasonable prospect of being substantiated,
to be referred to a tribunal for it to provide advice about any steps which should be taken to deal with the complaint.
(3) The Lord Chief Justice may from time to time prepare a new code or make alterations to a code.
(4) The Lord Chief Justice must publish each code prepared by him and any alterations which he makes to a code (or the code as altered).
(1) In Schedule 3 to the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23) (qualification for appointment to statutory offices), omit the entries relating to the Principal Secretary to the Lord Chief Justice and the Legal Secretary to the Lord Chief Justice.
(2) In section 53(2) of that Act (secretary to Crown Court Rules Committee), for the words from “secretary to” to “such secretary” substitute “ joint secretaries to the Crown Court Rules Committee shall be the Principal Secretary to the Lord Chief Justice and a person designated by the Lord Chancellor; and whichever of them is nominated by the Lord Chancellor ”.
(3) In section 54(5) of that Act (joint secretaries to Court of Judicature Rules Committee), for the words from “such persons” to the end substitute “ the Principal Secretary to the Lord Chief Justice and a person designated by the Lord Chancellor. ”
(4) In paragraph 6 of Schedule 2 to the Family Law (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 (S.I. 1993/1576 (N.I. 6)) (joint secretaries to Northern Ireland Family Proceedings Rules Committee), for the words from “such persons” to the end substitute “ the Principal Secretary to the Lord Chief Justice and a person designated by the Lord Chancellor. ”
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2) In section 7(1)(a) of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23) (further assistance for transaction of business of High Court or Court of Appeal by Lord of Appeal in Ordinary), for “had practised for not less than ten years at the Bar of Northern Ireland” substitute “ was a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland, or a solicitor of the Supreme Court, of at least ten years’ standing ”.
(3) For section 9 of that Act (qualification for appointment as judge of High Court or Court of Appeal) substitute—
Qualification to be judge of High Court or Court of Appeal
9 A person is not qualified for appointment as Lord Chief Justice, a Lord Justice of Appeal or a judge of the High Court unless he is—
(a) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least ten years’ standing; or
(b) a solicitor of the Supreme Court of at least ten years’ standing.
(4) In section 103(1) of the County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 (c. 25 (N.I.)) (qualification for appointment as county court judge), for the words after “unless” substitute
he is—
(a) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least ten years’ standing; or
(b) a solicitor of the Supreme Court of at least ten years’ standing.
(5) In section 107(1) of that Act (qualification for appointment as deputy county court judge), for the words after “deputy judge” substitute
a person who is—
(a) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least ten years’ standing; or
(b) a solicitor of the Supreme Court of at least ten years’ standing.
(6) In section 9(1) of the Magistrates’ Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964 (c. 21 (N.I.)) (qualification for appointment as resident magistrate), for the words after “appointments” substitute
are—
(a) members of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least seven years’ standing; or
(b) solicitors of the Supreme Court of at least seven years’ standing.
(7) In section 2(3) of the Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 (c. 15 (N.I.)) (qualification for appointment as coroner), for the words after “unless” substitute
he is—
(a) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least five years’ standing; or
(b) a solicitor of the Supreme Court of at least five years’ standing.
(8) In section 70(2) of the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23) (qualification for appointment to offices in Schedule 3), for the words after “unless” substitute
he is—
(a) a barrister or solicitor, or in the case of the Official Solicitor a solicitor, who has at least the number of years’ standing specified in relation to that office in column 3 of that Schedule; or
(b) the holder of any other office so listed.
(9) In Schedule 3 to that Act, in each of the entries relating to a Master . . . , in column 3 (number of years’ standing), for “10” substitute “ 7 ”.
(10) In section 35 of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36) (Crown Solicitor for Northern Ireland), after subsection (1) insert—
(1A) A person is not qualified for appointment as Crown Solicitor unless he is—
(a) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least ten years’standing; or
(b) a solicitor of the Supreme Court of at least ten years’ standing.
(1) Every person appointed to an office specified in Schedule 6 must, before undertaking any functions of the office, either—
(a) take the oath specified in subsection (2), or
(b) make the affirmation and declaration specified in subsection (3).
(2) The oath is—
I.................... do swear that I will well and faithfully serve in the office of.................... and that I will do right to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection or ill-will according to the laws and usages of this realm.
(3) The affirmation and declaration is—
I.................... do solemnly and sincerely and truly affirm and declare that I will well and faithfully serve in the office of.................... and that I will do right to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection or ill-will according to the laws and usages of this realm.
(4) The Lord Chancellor may by order amend Schedule 6 by—
(a) adding an office,
(b) omitting an office, or
(c) altering the description of an office.
(5) An order under subsection (4) may make appropriate consequential amendments in any enactment or instrument (whenever passed or made).
In section 35 of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36) (Crown Solicitor for Northern Ireland), for subsection (3) substitute—
(3) The Crown Solicitor—
(a) must make his services available to any Minister or department of the Government of the United Kingdom; and
(b) may make his services available to any Northern Ireland Minister or Northern Ireland department or any other public body or holder of public office.
(1) Article 40 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11)) (power to extend judicial pension schemes in connection with pension credits) is amended as follows.
(2) In paragraph (2), after sub-paragraph (g) insert—
(h) the Judicial Pensions Act 1981 (c. 20); and
(i) the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 (c. 8).
(3) In paragraph (3)(a)—
(a) for “(2)(d) and (e)” substitute “ (2)(d) or (e) ”, and
(b) for “(2)(a) to (c), (f) and (g),” substitute “ (2)(a), (b), (c), (f), (g), (h) or (i) ”.
(4) In paragraph (4)(a), for “(2)(a) to (c), (f) and (g)” substitute “ (2)(a), (b), (c), (f), (g), (h) or (i) ”.
(1) The Attorney General for England and Wales shall no longer be Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
(2) The First Minister and deputy First Minister, acting jointly, must appoint a person to be Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
(3) The Attorney General for Northern Ireland is to be funded by the First Minister and deputy First Minister, acting jointly.
(4) The Attorney General for Northern Ireland may appoint staff, but subject to the approval of the First Minister and deputy First Minister as to—
(a) numbers,
(b) salary, and
(c) other conditions of service.
(5) The functions of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland shall be exercised by him independently of any other person.
(6) A person is not qualified for appointment as Attorney General for Northern Ireland unless he is—
(a) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least ten years’ standing, or
(b) a solicitor of the Court of Judicature of at least ten years’ standing.
(7) The First Minister and deputy First Minister, acting jointly, must make arrangements for the discharge of the functions of the Attorney General of Northern Ireland during any vacancy in that office.
(1) Subject as follows, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland holds office in accordance with the terms of his appointment (or re-appointment).
(2) A person may not be appointed as the Attorney General for Northern Ireland for more than five years at a time.
(3) The Attorney General for Northern Ireland may resign by notice in writing to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
(4) The First Minister and deputy First Minister, acting jointly, must pay to or in respect of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland any such salary or allowances as they may determine.
(5) Section 48 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47) (pensions) applies in relation to a person who has ceased to be the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
(6) In Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 24) (disqualifying offices), insert (at the appropriate place in alphabetical order)—
Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
(7) In Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Assembly Disqualification Act 1975 (c. 25) (disqualifying offices), insert (at the appropriate place in alphabetical order)—
Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
(8) The Attorney General for Northern Ireland is disqualified from being elected to, or being a member of, a district council in Northern Ireland.
(9) In Part 7 of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36) (public authorities), insert (at the appropriate place in alphabetical order)—
The Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
(1) The Attorney General for Northern Ireland—
(a) may be removed from office by the First Minister and deputy First Minister, acting jointly, if a tribunal convened under subsection (3) has reported to them recommending that he be removed on the ground of misbehaviour or inability to perform the functions of the office, and
(b) may be suspended from office by them (pending a decision whether to remove him) if the tribunal, at any time when it is considering whether to recommend his removal, has recommended to them that he be suspended.
(2) If the Attorney General for Northern Ireland is suspended he may not perform any of the functions of the office until the decision whether to remove him has been taken (but his other rights as holder of the office are unaffected).
(3) A tribunal may be convened by the First Minister and deputy First Minister, acting jointly.
(4) A tribunal is to consist of—
(a) a person who holds high judicial office, within the meaning of Part 3 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and does not hold (and has never held) the office of Lord Chief Justice, Lord Justice of Appeal or judge of the High Court, and
(b) a person who holds, or has held, office as a judge of the High Court in England and Wales or a judge of the Court of Session.
(5) The selection of the persons to be the members of a tribunal is to be made by the Lord Chancellor after consultation with all of the following—
(a) the President of the Supreme Court;
(b) the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales;
(c) the Lord President of the Court of Session;
(d) the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.
(6) The chairman of a tribunal is the person mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (4).
(7) The procedure of a tribunal is to be determined by its chairman.
(8) The First Minister and deputy First Minister, acting jointly, may pay to a member of a tribunal any such allowances or fees as they may determine.
25 Participation by Attorney General in Assembly proceedings
(1) The Attorney General for Northern Ireland may participate in the proceedings of the Assembly to the extent permitted by its standing orders but he may not vote in the Assembly.
(2) The Assembly’s standing orders may in other respects provide that they are to apply to the Attorney General of Northern Ireland as if he were a member of the Assembly.
(3) The Attorney General for Northern Ireland may, in any proceedings of the Assembly, decline to answer any question or produce any document relating to the operation of the system of prosecution of offences in any particular case if he considers that answering the question or producing the document—
(a) might prejudice criminal proceedings in that case, or
(b) would be otherwise against the public interest.
(4) Section 43 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47) (interests of members of Assembly) applies to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland as if he were a member of the Assembly.
(1) The Attorney General for Northern Ireland must, as soon as possible after the end of each financial year, prepare a report on how he has exercised his functions during the financial year.
(2) The Attorney General for Northern Ireland must send a copy of each annual report of his to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
(3) The First Minister and deputy First Minister, acting jointly, must lay before the Assembly a copy of each annual report received by their Office under subsection (2).
(4) After a copy of an annual report has been laid in accordance with subsection (3), the First Minister and deputy First Minister, acting jointly, must arrange for the annual report to be published.
(5) But the First Minister and deputy First Minister, acting jointly, may exclude a part of an annual report from the copy laid or published if, in their opinion, the laying or publication of the part—
(a) would be against the public interest, or
(b) might jeopardise the safety of any person.
(6) If the First Minister and deputy First Minister exclude a part of an annual report from laying or publication, they must lay or publish with the annual report a statement that it has been excluded.
(7) “Financial year” means—
(a) the period beginning with the day on which the first person appointed under section 22 takes office and ending with the first 31st March which falls at least six months after that day, and
(b) each subsequent period of twelve months beginning with 1st April.
(1) After the coming into force of section 22(1), the Attorney General for England and Wales shall, by virtue of that office, also be Advocate General for Northern Ireland.
(2) In section 2 of the Law Officers Act 1997 (c. 60) (exercise of functions of Attorney General for Northern Ireland by Solicitor General)—
(a) in subsection (1), for “Attorney General for Northern Ireland” substitute “ Advocate General for Northern Ireland ”,
(b) in subsections (2) to (5), for “Attorney General” (in each place) substitute “ Advocate General ”, and
(c) in subsection (6), for “ “Attorney General” means the Attorney” substitute “ “Advocate General” means the Advocate ”.
(3) The Advocate General for Northern Ireland and the Solicitor General for England and Wales shall have in Northern Ireland the same rights of audience as members of the Bar of Northern Ireland.
(4) In Schedule 2 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47) (excepted matters), after paragraph 21 insert—
21A The office and functions of the Advocate General for Northern Ireland.
(1) Schedule 7 makes provision about the functions of the Advocate General for Northern Ireland.
(2) The Secretary of State may by order make amendments in any enactment or instrument (whenever passed or made) for, or in connection with, the transfer to the Advocate General for Northern Ireland of a function of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland of giving consent to the institution or conduct of criminal proceedings (whether or not as an alternative to the consent of any other person).
(1) There is to be a prosecuting service for Northern Ireland known as the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland.
(2) The Service is to consist of—
(a) the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland,
(b) the Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland, and
(c) the members of staff of the service appointed under subsection (4).
(3) The Service is to be funded out of money appropriated for that purpose by Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
(4) The Director may appoint staff of the Service, but subject to the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel as to—
(a) numbers,
(b) salary, and
(c) other conditions of service.
(5) The Director may designate any member of staff of the Service who is—
(a) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland, or
(b) a solicitor of the Court of Judicature;
and any person designated under this subsection is to be known as a Public Prosecutor.
(6) The Director is head of the Service; and the Deputy Director and the Public Prosecutors and the other members of staff of the Service are subject to his direction and control.
(7) The Director and Deputy Director (if barristers) and Public Prosecutors designated under subsection (5)(a) are not prevented from—
(a) conducting any criminal proceedings, or
(b) exercising a right of audience in any criminal proceedings,
by not having been instructed by a solicitor.
(8) The Director may set up and maintain such offices, in such places in Northern Ireland, as he considers appropriate for the exercise of his functions.
(1) The Attorney General for Northern Ireland must—
(a) appoint a person to be Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland, and
(b) appoint a person to be Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
(2) A person is not qualified for appointment as Director unless he is—
(a) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least ten years’ standing, or
(b) a solicitor of the Court of Judicature of at least ten years’ standing.
(3) A person is not qualified for appointment as Deputy Director unless he is—
(a) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least seven years’ standing, or
(b) a solicitor of the Court of Judicature of at least seven years’ standing.
(4) The Deputy Director has all the powers of the Director but must exercise them subject to his direction and control.
(5) A person appointed as Director or Deputy Director holds office until the end of the year of service in which he attains the age of 65 or such later time as the Attorney General for Northern Ireland may specify.
(6) But the Director and Deputy Director—
(a) may resign by notice in writing to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland, and
(b) may be removed from office in accordance with section 40(3) or 43.
(7) If the office of Director is vacant or the Director is not available to exercise his functions, the Deputy Director has all the functions of the Director.
(8) If the office of Deputy Director becomes vacant, the Attorney General for Northern Ireland may appoint a member of staff of the Service to act as Deputy Director, on such terms as to tenure as the Attorney General for Northern Ireland determines, pending a new appointment.
(9) There is to be paid (out of money appropriated as mentioned in section 29(3)) to or in respect of the Director, the Deputy Director and any person appointed to act as Deputy Director any such—
(a) salary,
(b) allowances, or
(c) sums for the provision of pensions,
as the Department of Finance and Personnel may determine.
(10) The Director is not required to give security with respect to any proceedings; and no order may be made by any court requiring security to be given to the Director with respect to any proceedings.
(11) The Director (and the Deputy Director and members of staff of the Service) may not be required in any proceedings of the Assembly to answer any question or produce any document relating to a matter other than the finances and administration of the Service.
(1) The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland is a corporation sole.
(2) The Director may do anything, apart from borrowing money, which is calculated to facilitate the exercise of the Director's functions or which is incidental or conducive to the exercise of those functions.
(3) An instrument or other document purporting to be signed or otherwise executed by or on behalf of the Director is to be received in evidence and is, unless the contrary is proved, to be taken to be so signed or executed.
(1) The Director must take over the conduct of all criminal proceedings which are instituted in Northern Ireland on behalf of any police force (whether by a member of that force or any other person).
(1A) The Director must take over conduct of all criminal proceedings which are instituted in Northern Ireland by the ICRIR.
(2) The Director may institute, and have the conduct of, criminal proceedings in any other case where it appears appropriate for him to do so.
(3) This section does not preclude any person other than the Director from—
(a) instituting any criminal proceedings, or
(b) conducting any criminal proceedings to which the Director’s duty to conduct proceedings does not apply.
(4) The Director may at any stage take over the conduct of any criminal proceedings which are instituted in circumstances in which he is not under a duty to take over their conduct, other than any proceedings of which the Director of the Serious Fraud Office has conduct.
(5) The Director must give to police forces and to the ICRIR such advice as appears to him appropriate on matters relating to the prosecution of offences.
(6) “Police force” means—
(a) the Police Service of Northern Ireland or the Police Service of Northern Ireland Reserve,
(b) the Ministry of Defence Police,
(c) any body of constables appointed under Article 19 of the Airports (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (S.I 1994/426 (N.I. 1)), or
(d) any body of special constables appointed in Northern Ireland under section 79 of the Harbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Act 1847 (c. 27) or section 57 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 (c. 16).
(7) In this section “ICRIR” means the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery.