Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act, 1961

Qualifications of judges of Circuit Court.

17.—(1) (a) The existing President of the Circuit Court shall be qualified for appointment as President of the Circuit Court and, if he is willing to accept office, no other person shall be qualified for appointment as President of the Circuit Court.

(b) Each of the persons (other than the existing President of the Circuit Court) who are judges of the existing Circuit Court immediately before the operative date shall be qualified for appointment as an ordinary judge of the Circuit Court and, if and so long as there is one or more than one of those persons who is willing to accept office and has not been appointed, no other person shall be qualified for appointment as an ordinary judge of the Circuit Court.

(c) Paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection apply only in relation to the qualification for appointment of the first judges of the Circuit Court.

(d) Subsections (2) and (3) of this section shall have effect subject to the preceding paragraphs of this subsection.

(2) (a) A person who is for the time being a practising barrister of not less than ten years' standing shall be qualified for appointment as a judge of the Circuit Court.

(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a) of this subsection, service, in the case of a barrister, as a justice of the existing District Court or of the District Court shall be deemed practice at the Bar.

(3) An ordinary judge of the Circuit Court shall be qualified for appointment as President of the Circuit Court.