Civil Bill Courts (Ireland) Act, 1851

Appointment of assistant barristers.

2. It shall be lawful for the Lord Lieutenant on the death, resignation, or removal of any assistant barrister to nominate and appoint to the office of assistant barrister for the county of Dublin, and for each and every other county and riding, a practising barrister at law of ten years standing at the least, who shall have actually practised ten years in her Majesty’s superior courts in Dublin, and shall not at the time of his appointment to such office have retired from such practice; and every assistant barrister, including every assistant barrister to be appointed for the said county of Dublin, shall hold his office during good behaviour, and no longer: Provided always, that it shall be lawful for her Majesty to remove any such assistant barrister from his office upon the address of both Houses of Parliament; and every assistant barrister shall be sole judge of the civil bill court to be holden under this Act, and shall be ipso facto in the commission of the peace, and a justice of the peace for the county for which or for any riding of which he shall be so appointed, even though no commission should be issued for the purpose, and shall duly attend at every session of the peace and adjournment thereof holden in such county or riding, and shall continue such attendance during the whole of every session and every adjournment thereof, save and except such sessions or adjournments as shall be held for any other purpose than the administration of justice in criminal cases and the hearing of causes in manner herein mentioned by civil bill, and shall by virtue of his office be and preside as chairman of the justices at general or quarter sessions; and it shall and may be lawful for such assistant barrister to proceed in the criminal or other business at such sessions, although no other justice of the peace for the county, riding, or place shall be in attendance: Provided also, that no person holding the said office of assistant barrister shall be capable of being a member of the House of Commons.