20—Amendment of section 6—Appointment to administrative offices in magistracy
(1) Section 6—after subsection (2) insert:
(2a) A person is not eligible for appointment as the Chief Magistrate unless he or she is a legal practitioner of at least 7 years standing.
(2b) For the purpose of determining whether a legal practitioner has the standing necessary for appointment as the Chief Magistrate, periods of legal practice and (where relevant) judicial service within and outside the State will be taken into account.
(2) Section 6(3)—delete "the Chief Magistrate or"
(3) Section 6(4)—delete "shall" and substitute:
(other than an appointment as the Chief Magistrate) will