{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/judicature-northern-ireland-act-1978/section-9",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/judicature-northern-ireland-act-1978/section-9.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1978/23",
  "legislation_title": "Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/judicature-northern-ireland-act-1978",
  "path": "section/9",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "9",
  "heading": "Qualification to be judge of High Court or Court of Appeal",
  "text": "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—\n(a) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least ten years’ standing; or\n(b) a solicitor of the Court of Judicature of at least ten years’ standing.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "By Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 145, 148(1), Sch. 17 para. 21(3); S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(e) it is provided (1.10.2009) that the words \"judge of the Supreme Court\" are substituted for the words \"Lord of Appeal in Ordinary\""
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "S. 9 substituted (15.10.2002) by 2002 c. 26, s. 18(3); S.R. 2002/319, art. 2, Sch."
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 9(b) substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 59, 148, Sch. 11 para. 6(1); S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(d)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1978/23/section/9",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:23:00.123548+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}