Section 269 — Immigration Act 2009: Tribunal or court may appoint counsel assisting the court

269 Tribunal or court may appoint counsel assisting the court (1) The Tribunal or a court may appoint counsel assisting the court for the purposes of any proceedings before it involving classified information. (2) Counsel assisting the court may be a special advocate but, if not, must be a person who holds an appropriate security clearance given by the chief executive of the Ministry of Justice. (3) Subsection (1) applies regardless of whether the person concerned has appointed a special advocate or a special advocate has been made available for the person. (4) The Tribunal or the court may provide counsel assisting the court with access to the classified information concerned as it thinks fit. (5) Counsel assisting the court must keep confidential and must not disclose classified information, except as expressly provided under this Act. (6) Counsel assisting the court may be removed from office by the Tribunal or a court for inability to perform the role of counsel assisting the court, neglect of duty, bankruptcy, or misconduct proved to the satisfaction of the Tribunal or the court.