Article 8 Election of chairman

Except as mentioned below, no justice may be elected chairman unless he obtains more than half the votes cast.

Where no justice obtains such a majority after the first ballot, up to two further ballots shall be held following which, if no justice has obtained such a majority, the justice who has obtained the most votes in aggregate in the three ballots shall be elected.

The second and third ballots shall be conducted on the basis of the procedure used for the conduct of the first ballot except that, where the traditional procedure is being applied in accordance with rule 7(3)(b), the requirement in subparagraph (b)(i) shall not be followed.

If after three ballots two or more justices have obtained the same number of votes in the aggregate so that the addition of a vote to those cast would entitle one of them to be elected, the justices' clerk shall immediately decide between them by lot and proceed as if the justice on whom the lot falls had received an additional vote.

Where a ballot (other than the third ballot) has been inconclusive the justices' clerk shall announce the fact and state the names of the justices for whom votes have been cast and the number of votes which each justice has received.

Where a ballot has been conclusive the justices' clerk shall announce the result.