Courts of Justice Act, 1926

In short

This law, the Courts of Justice Act, 1926, primarily reorganizes the Central Criminal Court, expanding its powers and clarifying how criminal cases are handled, especially for those awaiting trial.

What it regulates

The constitution and jurisdiction of the Central Criminal Court.
The repeal of references to the High Court Circuit and its Commissioners.
The process for sending accused persons forward for trial.
The trial of individuals who were awaiting trial at the time this Act came into force.

Who it concerns

Judges of the High Court, particularly the President of the High Court.
Accused persons facing criminal charges, especially those awaiting trial.

Key points

The President of the High Court alone assigns a High Court Judge to act as the Central Criminal Court.
The Central Criminal Court now has all criminal jurisdiction previously held by the High Court.
Sittings of the Central Criminal Court are held at times and places directed by the President of the High Court.
District Court Justices must send accused persons to the Circuit Court if all offences are within its jurisdiction; otherwise, they must send them to the Central Criminal Court.

Legal text

Courts of Justice Act, 1926 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.

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s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1926 Courts of Justice Act, 1926 Courts of Justice Act, 1926 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 1 of 1926. COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT, 1926. ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1. The Principal Act. 2. Repeal of references to High Court Circuit. 3. Assignment of High Court Judge to Central Criminal Court. 4. Jurisdiction of Central Criminal Court. 5. Times and sittings of Central Criminal Court. 6. Sending forward of accused persons for trial. 7. Trial of persons now awaiting trial. 8. Cases which may be disposed of by the Central Criminal Court. 9. Short title, construction and citation. Act Referred to Courts of Justice Act, 1924 No. 10 of 1924 Number 1 of 1926. COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT, 1926. AN ACT TO MAKE FURTHER PROVISION FOR THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT AND TO EXTEND THE JURISDICTION THEREOF AND TO TRANSFER TO THAT COURT THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF THE HIGH COURT CIRCUIT AND TO MAKE BETTER PROVISION FOR THE TRIAL OF ACCUSED PERSONS INCLUDING ACCUSED PERSONS NOW AWAITING TRIAL. [15th January, 1926.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS OF SAORSTÁT EIREANN AS FOLLOWS:— The Principal Act. 1.—In this Act the expression “the Principal Act” means the Courts of Justice Act, 1924 (No. 10 of 1924). Repeal of references to High Court Circuit. 2.—The definitions contained in section 3 of the Principal Act of the Commissioners of the High Court Circuit and the Court of the High Court Circuit and also all references contained in the Principal Act to those Commissioners or that Court are hereby repealed. Assignment of High Court Judge to Central Criminal Court. 3.—

(1)The power of assigning to a judge of the High Court the duty of acting as the Central Criminal Court for the time being shall be vested in the President of the High Court alone.

(2)It shall be lawful for the President of the High Court in the exercise of the said power to assign the said duty to himself. Jurisdiction of Central Criminal Court. 4.—The Central Criminal Court shall have and may exercise every jurisdiction in criminal matters for the time being vested in the High Court, and every person lawfully brought before the Central Criminal Court for trial in exercise of any such jurisdiction may be indicted before and tried and sentenced by that Court wherever it may be sitting in like manner in all respects as if the crime with which such person is charged had been committed in the county or county borough in which the said Court is sitting. Times and sittings of Central Criminal Court. 5.—

(1)Clause (iv.) of section 36 of the Principal Act is hereby repealed and in lieu thereof it is hereby enacted that the sittings of the Central Criminal Court shall be held (with and subject to a general power of adjournment) at such times and in such places as the President of the High Court shall from time to time direct.

(2)Every application to the Central Criminal Court in relation to a matter pending or formerly pending in that Court may, if and when that Court is not sitting, be made to and heard and disposed of by any Judge of the High Court. Sending forward of accused persons for trial. 6.—The second proviso to paragraph B of section 77 of the Principal Act is hereby repealed and in lieu thereof it is hereby enacted that in all criminal cases not disposed of summarily by a Justice of the District Court, the Justice shall, if all the offences in respect of which the accused person is being sent forward are within the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court, send the accused person forward for trial to the Circuit Judge or one of the Circuit Judges (to be selected by the Justice) who under section 53 of the Principal Act has jurisdiction to try the case and in every other case shall send the accused person forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court. Trial of persons now awaiting trial. 7.—

(1)Every person who, having been sent forward for trial either— (

a)on a charge which is not within the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court or on a number of charges any one or more or all of which is or are not within the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court, or (
b)to a Court of the High Court Circuit by a Circuit Judge in exercise of the power in that behalf conferred on him by section 54 of the Principal Act, is at the passing of this Act awaiting trial accordingly shall be deemed to have been sent forward for trial to the sitting of the Central Criminal Court next ensuing after the passing of this Act and shall be tried accordingly.

(2)The recognizances by way of bail (if any such there be) given by or in respect of a person to whom the foregoing sub-section applies shall have effect as if references to the Central Criminal Court were inserted therein in lieu of the references contained therein to the court or courts actually mentioned or described therein. Cases which may be disposed of by the Central Criminal Court. 8.—The cases which may be disposed of by the Central Criminal Court at any particular sitting of the Court shall include all cases in which the accused person is, at the beginning of or at any time during that sitting, in custody in the county or county borough in which the sitting is being held and is awaiting trial by the Circuit Court. Short title, construction and citation. 9.—

(1)This Act may be cited as the Courts of Justice Act, 1926.

(2)This Act shall be construed as one with the Principal Act, and the Principal Act and this Act may be cited together as the Courts of Justice Acts, 1924 and 1926. Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.