Commentary on Sections Miscellaneous Section 47: Altering title of resident magistrate
109.The Report of the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice Review recommended restyling Northern Ireland resident magistrates as district judges (magistrates’ courts) in order to demonstrate publicly that the magistracy is an integral part of the judiciary.
110.Section 102 of the Courts Act 2003 provides the Lord Chancellor with a general power to alter, by order, existing judicial titles in relation to the Supreme Court and the county courts in Northern Ireland following consultation with the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland. Section 47 amends section 102 of the 2003 Act so as to enable the Lord Chancellor to use this power to alter the titles of resident magistrate, presiding resident magistrate and deputy resident magistrate.