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Section history

Section 19 — “Judge”

As in force on 31 December 2021.

Timeline 4 versions
  1. 30 March 1987 Enacted
  2. 30 November 2008 Revised edition
  3. 31 December 2021 Revised edition
  4. 17 August 2026 Latest
Revised edition in force 31 December 2021

The text below is this provision as reproduced in the Revised Edition that came into force on this date. A revised edition consolidates the law without changing its substance, so editorial amendments — such as renumbering, updated citations and formatting — may have been made but are not shown as a redline.

19.“Judge”

The word “judge” denotes not only every person who is officially designated as a judge, but also every person who is empowered by law to give, in any legal proceeding, civil or criminal, a definitive judgment, or a judgment which, if not appealed against, would be definitive, or a judgment which, if confirmed by some other authority, would be definitive, or who is one of a body of persons, which body of persons is empowered by law to give such a judgment.

Illustrations

(a) A Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in respect of a charge on which he has power to sentence to fine or imprisonment, with or without appeal, is a judge.

(b) Officers holding an inquiry as to the loss of a ship under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 are judges.

(c) A Magistrate exercising jurisdiction in respect of a charge on which he has power only to commit for trial to another court, is not a judge.