Legislation – Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015

Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015, Section 5 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 02 April 2026. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

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Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 5:

s. 13(2)(2A) substituted for s. 13(2) by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(5)
s. 13(4)(5) added by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(6)
s. 13A⁠ inserted by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(7)
s. 13A inserted by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(7)
Sch. 2 para. 8(1) Sch. 2 para. 8 renumbered as Sch. 2 para. 8(1) by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(9)(f)(i)
Sch. 2 para. 8(2) inserted by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(9)(f)(iii)
Sch. 2 para. 8(1) words substituted by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(9)(f)(ii)

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

s. 13(2)(2A) substituted for s. 13(2) by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(5)
s. 13(4)(5) added by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(6)
s. 13A⁠ inserted by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(7)
s. 13A inserted by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(7)
Sch. 2 para. 8(1) Sch. 2 para. 8 renumbered as Sch. 2 para. 8(1) by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(9)(f)(i)
Sch. 2 para. 8(2) inserted by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(9)(f)(iii)
Sch. 2 para. 8(1) words substituted by 2022 c. 4 (N.I.) s. 4(9)(f)(ii)

PART 1SINGLE JURISDICTION FOR COUNTY COURTS AND MAGISTRATES’ COURTS

Justices of the peace5

(1)

There shall be a commission of the peace for Northern Ireland—

(a)

issued under the Great Seal of Northern Ireland; and

(b)

addressed generally, and not by name, to all such persons as may from time to time hold office as justices of the peace for Northern Ireland.

(2)

Justices of the peace for Northern Ireland—

(a)

shall be appointed by the Department by instrument on behalf and in the name of Her Majesty, and

(b)

may be removed from office in the same manner.

(3)

A justice of the peace shall have as regards the whole of Northern Ireland the jurisdiction and duties which immediately before commencement were vested in or imposed on a justice of the peace as regards a county court division.

(4)

Accordingly, so much of any existing statutory provision as requires or authorises anything to be done by, or in relation to, a justice of the peace acting for a particular county court division shall be disregarded; and that thing may be done by, or in relation to, any justice of the peace.

(5)

The Department shall make arrangements—

(a)

for keeping a copy of any instrument appointing or removing a justice of the peace; and

(b)

for keeping, and from time to time rectifying, a record of all persons for the time being holding office as justice of the peace.