OpenLegislation

Courts Act 1971 in Northern Ireland

1971 c. 23 · Enacted 12 May 1971 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 5 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 October 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 29(1)word omittedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 s. 46(2)(a)
s. 29(1)words substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 s. 46(2)(d)
s. 29(1)words omittedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 s. 46(2)(b)
s. 29(1)words substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 s. 46(2)(c)
s. 29(2)word substitutedJudicial Review and Courts Act 2022 s. 46(3)

Contents

  1. 1The Supreme Court. Repealed
  2. 2Location of sittings and business of High Court. Repealed
  3. 3Abolition of courts of quarter sessions. Repealed
  4. 6Exclusive jurisdiction in trial on indictment. Repealed
  5. 7Committal for trial on indictment. Repealed
  6. 8Transfer to Crown Court of quarter sessions jurisdiction. Repealed
  7. 9Appeals to Crown Court. Repealed
  8. 10High Court jurisdiction in Crown Court proceedings. Repealed
  9. 11Sentences imposed and other decisions made by Crown Court. Repealed
  10. 12Right of audience. Repealed
  11. 14Practice and procedure: power to make rules. Repealed
  12. 15Crown Court rules. Repealed
  13. 18Salaries and allowances of Circuit judges.
  14. 19Section 19
  15. 23Circuit judge or Recorder sitting as High Court Judge.
  16. 25Official referees’ business.
  17. 26Masters and registrars to be appointed by Lord Chancellor.
  18. 31—40. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  19. Part VI: Miscellaneous and Supplemental
  20. Merger or abolition of certain courts and offices
  21. 46. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  22. 47—49. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  23. 50. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
  24. 51Construction and consequential amendments
  25. 54Boroughs: honorary offices.
  26. Supplemental
  27. 57Interpretation of this Act and rules of construction of other Acts.
  28. 59Short title, commencement and extent.
  29. Part I: Certain Office-Holders to be Circuit Judges
  30. 2Paragraph 2
  31. Paragraph
  32. Paragraph
  33. Paragraph
  34. Paragraph
  35. Paragraph
  36. Paragraph
  37. Paragraph
  38. Paragraph
  39. Paragraph
  40. Paragraph
  41. Paragraph
  42. Paragraph
  43. Part II: Supplementary Provisions with Respect to Certain Judicial Officers
  44. 4Paragraph 4
  45. 5Paragraph 5
  46. 6Paragraph 6
  47. 7Paragraph 7
  48. 9Paragraph 9
  49. 1—5Paragraph 1—5 Repealed
  50. Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963
  51. Licensing Act 1964.
  52. Criminal Justice Act 1967
  53. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  54. 9Paragraph 9
  55. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  56. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  57. Gaming Act 1968
  58. 12Paragraph 12
  59. Part I: AMENDMENTS OF JUSTICES OF THE PEACE ACT 1949
  60. 1Paragraph 1
  61. 2Paragraph 2
  62. 3Paragraph 3
  63. Part II: AMENDMENTS OF THE PRISON ACT 1952
  64. Part III
  65. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  66. 7, 8Paragraph 7, 8 Repealed
  67. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  68. Schedule 8: Amendments of other Acts
  69. Administrative functions of quarter sessions and clerks of the peace
  70. 1Paragraph 1
  71. General rules of construction
  72. Amendments of local Acts
  73. 3Paragraph 3
  74. Part II: Miscellaneous Amendments
  75. 4Paragraph 4
  76. 5Paragraph 5
  77. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  78. 7Paragraph 7
  79. Indictable Offences Act 1848
  80. 9Paragraph 9
  81. Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851
  82. 10Paragraph 10
  83. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  84. 15Paragraph 15
  85. 16Paragraph 16
  86. 18Paragraph 18 Repealed
  87. 19Paragraph 19
  88. 20Paragraph 20
  89. 22Paragraph 22 Repealed
  90. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  91. 24Paragraph 24
  92. 25—27Paragraph 25—27 Repealed
  93. 28Paragraph 28
  94. 29Paragraph 29 Repealed
  95. 30Paragraph 30 Repealed
  96. 31Paragraph 31 Repealed
  97. 32Paragraph 32 Repealed
  98. 33Paragraph 33
  99. 34Paragraph 34 Repealed
  100. 36Paragraph 36 Repealed
  101. 37Paragraph 37
  102. 38Paragraph 38 Repealed
  103. 39Paragraph 39
  104. 40Paragraph 40
  105. 43Paragraph 43
  106. 44Paragraph 44 Repealed
  107. 46Paragraph 46 Repealed
  108. 47Paragraph 47 Repealed
  109. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  110. 51Paragraph 51 Repealed
  111. 52Paragraph 52 Repealed
  112. 53, 54Paragraph 53, 54 Repealed
  113. 56Paragraph 56 Repealed
  114. 58Paragraph 58
  115. IIOriginal Jurisdiction
  116. Part I: Criminal Assize Courts and Courts of Quarter Sessions
  117. Part-heard proceedings
  118. Costs in criminal cases
  119. Records of courts of quarter sessions
  120. Part II: Courts: Miscellaneous
  121. Civil courts of assize
  122. Directions by Lord Chief Justice
  123. Part III: County Court Judges
  124. Part IV: Judges, Officers and Staff
  125. Continuation of appointments
  126. 9Paragraph 9
  127. Jury service
  128. 11, 12Paragraph 11, 12 Repealed
  129. 13, 14Paragraph 13, 14 Repealed
  130. 15Paragraph 15
  131. 16Paragraph 16
  132. Seconding of staff from local or other authorities