OpenLegislation

Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002

2002 c. 26 · Enacted 24 July 2002 · Extends to United Kingdom

Not fully up to date. 15 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 November 2024.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
Sch. 12 para. 23-27repealedAccess to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 Sch. 5
s. 61repealedAccess to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 Sch. 5
Sch. 12 para. 16repealedAccess to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 Sch. 5
s. 9(2)words substitutedJustice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 Sch. 3 para. 41(3)
s. 9(5)words substitutedJustice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 Sch. 3 para. 41(4)
s. 9(11)words substitutedJustice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 Sch. 3 para. 41(5)(a)
s. 9(11)words substitutedJustice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 Sch. 3 para. 41(5)(b)
s. 90(2)words substitutedJustice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 Sch. 3 para. 42(2)
s. 22applied by 2000 c. 1, Sch. para 5A (as inserted)Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 Sch. 12 para. 79
s. 90(4)words repealedJustice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 Sch. 3 para. 42(3) Sch. 13
s. 9(1)words substitutedJustice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 Sch. 3 para. 41(2)
s. 9(3) (4)words substitutedJustice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 Sch. 3 para. 41(2)
Sch. 6entry substitutedConstitutional Reform Act 2005 Sch. 5 para. 126(3)
s. 37(4)amendment to earlier affecting provision 2007 c. 27, Sch. 2 para. 18Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 38(10)
s. 39(2)amendment to earlier affecting provision 2007 c. 27, Sch. 2 para. 18Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 Sch. 2 para. 38(10)
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:—

Contents

  1. Part 1: The Judiciary
  2. General
  3. 1Guarantee of continued judicial independence
  4. Appointment and removal
  5. 2Introductory
  6. 3Judicial Appointments Commission
  7. 4Appointment to most senior judicial offices Not yet in force
  8. 5Appointment to listed judicial offices
  9. 5ADisclosure of information to the Commission
  10. 6Removal from most senior judicial offices Not yet in force
  11. 7Removal from listed judicial offices
  12. 8Tribunals for considering removal Not yet in force
  13. 9Lay magistrates Repealed
  14. . . .
  15. The Ombudsman
  16. 9AJudicial Appointments Ombudsman
  17. 9BComplaints: interpretation
  18. 9CComplaints to the Commission or the Lord Chancellor
  19. 9DComplaints to the Ombudsman
  20. 9EReport and recommendations
  21. 9FReport procedure
  22. 9GReferences by the Lord Chancellor Repealed
  23. 9HInformation
  24. 9IConfidentiality in relation to judicial appointments and discipline
  25. Transfer of functions of justices of the peace
  26. 10Transfer of functions of justices of the peace
  27. 11Transfer of functions of lay panellists
  28. Lord Chief Justice
  29. 12Role of Lord Chief Justice
  30. 13Presiding county court judge
  31. 14Presiding resident magistrate
  32. 15Presiding lay magistrate
  33. 16Complaints about holders of judicial office
  34. 17Secretaries to Lord Chief Justice
  35. Other provisions
  36. 18Qualification for appointment
  37. 19Judicial oath or affirmation
  38. 20Crown Solicitor
  39. 21Judicial pensions: pension sharing
  40. Part 2: Law Officers and Public Prosecution Service
  41. Attorney General
  42. 22Attorney General
  43. 23Terms of appointment of Attorney General
  44. 24Removal of Attorney General
  45. 25Participation by Attorney General in Assembly proceedings
  46. 26Annual report by Attorney General
  47. Advocate General
  48. 27Advocate General
  49. 28Functions of Advocate General
  50. Public Prosecution Service
  51. 29Public Prosecution Service
  52. 30Director of Public Prosecutions
  53. 30ACorporation sole etc
  54. 31Conduct of prosecutions
  55. 31AConduct of extradition proceedings
  56. 32Discontinuance of proceedings before court appearance
  57. 32AInfluencing a prosecutor
  58. 33Consents to prosecutions
  59. 34Police complaints
  60. 35Information for Director
  61. 36Exercise of functions by and on behalf of Service
  62. 37Code for Prosecutors
  63. 38Equality and non-discrimination
  64. 39Reports by Director
  65. Relationship of Director and Attorney General
  66. 40Superintendence and removal of Director
  67. 41Transfer of functions etc.
  68. 42Independence of Director
  69. 43Appointment and removal of Director by Attorney General
  70. Supplementary
  71. 44Interpretation
  72. Part 3: Other New Institutions
  73. Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice
  74. 45Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice
  75. 46Functions of Chief Inspector
  76. 47Further provisions about functions
  77. 48Powers of inspectors
  78. 49Reports
  79. Law Commission
  80. 50Law Commission
  81. 51Duties of Commission
  82. 52Reports etc.
  83. Part 4: Youth Justice
  84. Aims
  85. 53Aims of youth justice system
  86. New orders
  87. 54Reparation orders
  88. 55Community responsibility orders
  89. 56Custody care orders Not yet in force
  90. Youth conferences
  91. 57Youth conferences and youth conference plans
  92. 58Diversionary youth conferences
  93. 59Court-ordered youth conferences
  94. 60Youth conference orders
  95. 61Legal aid for youth conferences
  96. Other provisions
  97. 62Orders: enforcement etc.
  98. 63Extension of youth justice system to 17 year olds
  99. 64Juvenile justice centre orders for 17 year olds
  100. 65Consultation about detention Not yet in force
  101. Part 5: Miscellaneous
  102. Royal Arms and flags
  103. 66Display of Royal Arms at courts
  104. 67Flying of flags at court-houses
  105. Victims of crime
  106. 68Information about discharge and temporary release of prisoners
  107. 69Views on temporary release
  108. 69AInformation about discharge and leave of absence of mentally disordered persons
  109. 69BViews on leave of absence
  110. 70Supplementary
  111. Community safety
  112. 71Community safety strategy
  113. 72Local community safety partnerships Not yet in force
  114. Civil procedure
  115. 73Constitution of Rules Committees Not yet in force
  116. 74Appeals in small claims cases
  117. 75Time limit for cases stated by county court
  118. Legal aid
  119. 76Exceptional legal aid Not yet in force
  120. 77Proceedings before coroner Repealed
  121. Court Service
  122. 78Power to abolish Court Service
  123. Court security
  124. 79Duty of Court Service to ensure court security Repealed
  125. 80Powers and duties of court security officers Repealed
  126. 81Protection of court security officers Repealed
  127. Part 6: Supplementary
  128. 82Excepted matters: judicial office-holders
  129. 83Reserved matters: new institutions Repealed
  130. 84Assembly Acts about judiciary, law officers and prosecutions
  131. 85Minor and consequential amendments
  132. 86Repeals and revocations
  133. 87Commencement
  134. 88Interpretation
  135. 89Transitionals and savings
  136. 90Statutory rules
  137. 91Extent
  138. 92Financial provision
  139. 93Short title
  140. Schedule 1: Listed judicial offices
  141. Paragraph
  142. Schedule 2: Judicial Appointments Commission
  143. 1Members’ tenure
  144. 2Paragraph 2
  145. 3Salary etc. of non-judicial members
  146. 4Staff
  147. 5Annual report
  148. 6Financial provisions
  149. 7Paragraph 7
  150. 8Committees and sub-committees
  151. 9Proceedings
  152. 10Paragraph 10
  153. 11Delegation
  154. 12Paragraph 12
  155. 13Miscellaneous
  156. 14Paragraph 14
  157. 15Paragraph 15
  158. 16Paragraph 16
  159. 17Paragraph 17
  160. 18Disqualification
  161. 19Paragraph 19
  162. 20Freedom of information
  163. Schedule 3: Appointment to listed judicial offices
  164. Part 1: Appointments by Her Majesty
  165. Application
  166. 1Paragraph 1
  167. Process
  168. 2Paragraph 2
  169. Part 2: Appointments by the Commission
  170. Application
  171. 3Paragraph 3
  172. Process
  173. 4Paragraph 4
  174. Part 3: Maximum numbers
  175. 5Paragraph 5
  176. Part 4: General provision about selections
  177. 6Paragraph 6
  178. Schedule 3A: The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Ombudsman
  179. Circumstances where Ombudsman ineligible to exercise specified functions
  180. 1Paragraph 1
  181. Ombudsman to direct a person to exercise specified functions
  182. 1AParagraph 1A
  183. Persons whom the Ombudsman must not direct
  184. 1BParagraph 1B
  185. Meaning of “specified functions” and “practising”
  186. 1CParagraph 1C
  187. 2Paragraph 2
  188. Term of office etc. of Ombudsman
  189. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  190. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  191. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  192. Salary, allowances and expenses
  193. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  194. Acting Ombudsman
  195. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  196. Status of the Ombudsman
  197. 8Paragraph 8
  198. Powers of the Ombudsman
  199. 9Paragraph 9
  200. Arrangements for assistance
  201. 10Paragraph 10
  202. Arrangements by the Lord Chancellor
  203. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  204. Delegation of functions
  205. 12Paragraph 12
  206. Financial provisions and directions
  207. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  208. Code of conduct
  209. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  210. Reports
  211. 15Paragraph 15
  212. Documentary evidence
  213. 16Paragraph 16
  214. General
  215. 17Paragraph 17
  216. Schedule 4: Functions of justices of the peace
  217. 1Retained functions
  218. 2Shared functions
  219. 3Functions to be exercisable only by resident magistrates
  220. 4Amendments: general
  221. 5Paragraph 5
  222. 5AParagraph 5A
  223. 6Paragraph 6
  224. 7Specific amendments
  225. 8Paragraph 8
  226. 9Paragraph 9
  227. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  228. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  229. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  230. 13Paragraph 13
  231. 14Paragraph 14 Not yet in force
  232. 15Paragraph 15
  233. 16Paragraph 16
  234. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  235. 18Paragraph 18
  236. 19Paragraph 19
  237. 20Paragraph 20
  238. 21Paragraph 21
  239. 22Paragraph 22
  240. 23Paragraph 23
  241. 24Paragraph 24
  242. 25Paragraph 25
  243. 26Paragraph 26
  244. 27Paragraph 27
  245. 28Paragraph 28
  246. 29Paragraph 29
  247. 30Paragraph 30
  248. 31Paragraph 31
  249. 32Paragraph 32
  250. 33Paragraph 33
  251. 34Paragraph 34
  252. 35Paragraph 35
  253. 36Paragraph 36
  254. 37Paragraph 37 Repealed
  255. 38Paragraph 38
  256. 39Paragraph 39
  257. 40Paragraph 40
  258. Schedule 5
  259. Schedule 6: Office-holders required to take judicial oath
  260. Paragraph
  261. Schedule 7: Functions of Advocate General
  262. 1Assembly Bills
  263. 2Devolution issues
  264. 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
  265. 4Paragraph 4
  266. 5Human rights
  267. 6Paragraph 6 Not yet in force
  268. 7Paragraph 7
  269. 7AParagraph 7A
  270. 8Varying retrospective decisions
  271. 9Paragraph 9 Not yet in force
  272. 10Paragraph 10
  273. 11Suspension of devolved government Not yet in force
  274. 12Acting as Attorney General for Northern Ireland during vacancy
  275. 13Consultation about appointment of Attorney General for Northern Ireland
  276. 14Crown Solicitor
  277. 15Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice
  278. 16Paragraph 16
  279. 17Paragraph 17
  280. 18Life sentence prisoners’ representatives Not yet in force
  281. 19Special advocates
  282. 20Paragraph 20
  283. 21Scheduled offences
  284. 22Paragraph 22
  285. 23Paragraph 23
  286. 24Consent to prosecution Repealed
  287. 25Paragraph 25 Not yet in force
  288. 26Paragraph 26
  289. 27Paragraph 27
  290. 28Paragraph 28
  291. 29Paragraph 29
  292. 30Paragraph 30
  293. 31Paragraph 31
  294. 32Paragraph 32
  295. 33Paragraph 33
  296. 34Paragraph 34
  297. 35Paragraph 35 Not yet in force
  298. 36Paragraph 36
  299. 37Paragraph 37
  300. Schedule 8: Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice
  301. 1Chief Inspector’s tenure
  302. 2Salary etc. of Chief Inspector
  303. 3Staff
  304. 4Annual report
  305. 5Financial provisions
  306. 6Paragraph 6
  307. 7Delegation of functions
  308. 8Inspections of Police Service
  309. 9Miscellaneous
  310. 10Paragraph 10
  311. 11Paragraph 11
  312. 12Paragraph 12
  313. 13Paragraph 13
  314. 14Disqualification
  315. 15Paragraph 15
  316. 16Freedom of information
  317. Schedule 9: Law Commission
  318. 1Commissioners’ tenure
  319. 2Commissioners holding judicial office
  320. 3Salary etc. of Commissioners not holding full-time judicial office
  321. 4Staff
  322. 5Financial provisions
  323. 6Paragraph 6
  324. 7Miscellaneous
  325. 8Paragraph 8
  326. 9Paragraph 9
  327. 10Paragraph 10
  328. 11Paragraph 11
  329. 12Paragraph 12
  330. 13Disqualification
  331. 14Paragraph 14
  332. 15Freedom of information
  333. Schedule 10: Youth justice orders: enforcement etc.
  334. Schedule 11: Extension of youth justice system to 17 year olds
  335. 1Costs in Criminal Cases Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 10 (N.I.))
  336. 2Treatment of Offenders Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (c. 29 (N.I.)) Not yet in force
  337. 3Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1908 (N.I. 27))
  338. 4Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26))
  339. 5Treatment of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1344 (N.I. 15)) Not yet in force
  340. 6Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (S.I. 1994/2795 (N.I. 15))
  341. 7Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I 1996/3160 (N.I. 24))
  342. 8Paragraph 8
  343. 9Paragraph 9
  344. 10Paragraph 10
  345. 11Paragraph 11
  346. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  347. 13Paragraph 13
  348. 14Paragraph 14
  349. 15Paragraph 15
  350. 16Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1504 (N.I. 9))
  351. 17Paragraph 17
  352. 18Paragraph 18
  353. 19Paragraph 19
  354. 20Paragraph 20
  355. 21Paragraph 21
  356. 22Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11) Repealed
  357. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  358. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  359. Schedule 12: Minor and consequential amendments
  360. 1Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1945 (c. 15 (N.I.))
  361. 2Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c. 33 (N.I.))
  362. 3County Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1959 (c. 25 (N.I.))
  363. 4Paragraph 4
  364. 5Paragraph 5
  365. 6Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (c. 14 (N.I.))
  366. 7Law Commissions Act 1965 (c. 22)
  367. 8Paragraph 8
  368. 9Paragraph 9
  369. 10Administration of Justice Act 1973 (c. 15)
  370. 11Paragraph 11
  371. 12Paragraph 12
  372. 13Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23) Not yet in force
  373. 14Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1908 (N.I. 27)) Not yet in force
  374. 15Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1980 (c. 47)
  375. 16Legal Aid, Advice and Assistance (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/228 (N.I. 8))
  376. 17Paragraph 17 Repealed
  377. 18Paragraph 18 Not yet in force
  378. 19Paragraph 19 Not yet in force
  379. 20Paragraph 20 Not yet in force
  380. 21Paragraph 21 Not yet in force
  381. 22Paragraph 22 Not yet in force
  382. 23Paragraph 23
  383. 24Paragraph 24
  384. 25Paragraph 25
  385. 26Paragraph 26
  386. 27Paragraph 27
  387. 28Paragraph 28 Not yet in force
  388. 29Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I 1981/1675 (N.I. 26))
  389. 30Paragraph 30 Not yet in force
  390. 31Paragraph 31
  391. 32Child Abduction (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 (S.I. 1985/1638 (N.I. 17)) Not yet in force
  392. 33Paragraph 33 Not yet in force
  393. 34Paragraph 34 Not yet in force
  394. 35Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (S.I. 1986/ 595 (N.I. 4)) Not yet in force
  395. 36Paragraph 36 Not yet in force
  396. 37Paragraph 37 Not yet in force
  397. 38Paragraph 38 Not yet in force
  398. 39Paragraph 39 Not yet in force
  399. 40Paragraph 40 Not yet in force
  400. 41Criminal Justice Act 1988 (c. 33)
  401. 42Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12)) Not yet in force
  402. 43Paragraph 43 Not yet in force
  403. 44Paragraph 44 Not yet in force
  404. 45Paragraph 45 Not yet in force
  405. 46Paragraph 46 Not yet in force
  406. 47Child Support Act 1991 (c. 48) Repealed
  407. 48Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 7) Not yet in force
  408. 49Criminal Appeal Act 1995 (c. 35)
  409. 50Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2)) Not yet in force
  410. 51Paragraph 51 Not yet in force
  411. 52Paragraph 52 Not yet in force
  412. 54Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/3160 (N.I. 24))
  413. 55Paragraph 55
  414. 56Paragraph 56
  415. 57Paragraph 57 Not yet in force
  416. 58Paragraph 58
  417. 59Paragraph 59 Not yet in force
  418. 60Sex Offenders Act 1997 (c. 51)
  419. 61Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (c. 32) Not yet in force
  420. 62Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47) Not yet in force
  421. 63Paragraph 63 Repealed
  422. 64Paragraph 64 Repealed
  423. 65Paragraph 65
  424. 66Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1504 (N.I. 9))
  425. 67Paragraph 67
  426. 68Paragraph 68 Not yet in force
  427. 69Paragraph 69
  428. 70Paragraph 70
  429. 71Paragraph 71
  430. 72Paragraph 72
  431. 73Paragraph 73
  432. 75Paragraph 75 Repealed
  433. 76Northern Ireland Act 2000 (c. 1) Not yet in force
  434. 77Paragraph 77 Not yet in force
  435. 78Paragraph 78 Not yet in force
  436. 79Paragraph 79 Not yet in force
  437. 80Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11)
  438. 81Regulatory Reform Act 2001 (c. 6) Not yet in force
  439. 82Constitutional Reform Act 2005
  440. Schedule 13: Repeals and revocations