The Gazette 1996

GAZETTE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1996

Jennifer Guinness, the chairwoman of the Labour Court, Ms. Evelyn Owens, and the chairman of Equity Bank Ltd. and Trading House Investment Company Ltd., Mr. John McGilligan.

issues relating to character and temperament.

strengthened to ensure the effectiveness of their role in relation to the adjudication of legal costs.

A person must undertake to take such course of training or education or both as may be required by the Chief Justice or President of the Court to which that person is appointed.

Rules Committee

The Act also confers further powers on the Superior Courts Rules Committee and the Circuit Court Rules Committee which will enable these committees to make rules in relation to pre-trial disclosure of certain matters with the object of shortening trials and reducing the costs associated with personal injuries actions. Under the Act, solicitors became eligible for the first time for appointment as Circuit Court judges. Section 28 provides that a Judge with four years service in the Circuit Court bench shall be eligible for appointment as a judge of the High or Supreme Court. This is a significant provision which will qualify a solicitor who has been appointed a Circuit Court judge for appointment to the High and Supreme Court after four years service as a judge of the Circuit Court. New powers have been conferred on County Registrars. County Registrars are now empowered to deal with motions such as remitting actions to the High Court, motions for discovery and motions to join a third party. New powers have been conferred on County Registrars as set out in the second schedule to the Act. These additional powers correspond to those that are currently exercised by the Master of the High Court in respect of the High Court. The effect of the new provisions is that County Registrars are empowered to deal with many motions that judges of the Circuit Court were required to hear County Registrars Appointment of Solicitor Judges

The Supreme Court

Part II of the Act deals with the Supreme Court and provides for the transfer on foot of a Government order of the powers, jurisdiction and functions of the Court of Criminal Appeal to the Supreme Court. When that order is made, the Court of Criminal Appeal shall cease to exist and all appeals pending before that Court shall be heard by the Supreme Court. Similar provisions are made in relation to the Courts - Marital Appeal Court. The Act provides that the Supreme Court may sit in two or more divisions at the same time. The 1995 Act provides for the increase in the statutory limit on the number of ordinary judges of the Supreme Court from four to seven, or eight, where a Supreme Court judge is a member of the Law Reform Commission. Number of Judges The maximum number of ordinary judges of the High Court is to be increased from 16 to 18, or 19, where a High Court judge is a member of the Law Reform Commission. The maximum number of ordinary judges of the Circuit Court is to be increased from 17 to 24 and in the District Court from 45 to 50 in addition to the President of the District Court. The Act amends and extends the powers of the Master of the High Court and Taxing Masters. The Act amends and extends the powers of the Master of the High Court by enabling the Master to exercise limited functions and powers of a judicial nature. The powers of the Taxing Master of the High Court are being High Court and Taxing Master

Thomas Shaw - Law Society President's nominee to Judicial Appointments Advisory Board

The Act provides that a person who wishes to be considered for appointment to judicial office shall inform the Board in writing and provide the Board with such information as it may require to enable the Board to consider the suitability of that person for judicial office including information relating to education and professional qualifications, experience and character. The Board shall recommend to the Minister for Justice for appointment to the relevant judicial office such of those persons as the Board considers suitable for appointment. In advising the President in relation to the appointment of a person to a judicial office, the Government shall firstly consider for appointment those persons whose names have been recommended by the Minister for Justice pursuant to the

Act. The Board must take the following into consideration:

• the degree of competence and probity of the barrister or solicitor appropriate to and consistent with the appointment concerned;

and

• general suitability including the