Section 7 — Senior Courts Act 2016: Number of High Court Judges

7 Number of High Court Judges (1) The number of High Court Judges appointed from time to time referred to in section 6(2)(b) may not exceed 55. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1),— (a) a permanent Judge who is sitting on a full-time basis counts as 1: (b) a permanent Judge who is sitting on a part-time basis counts as an appropriate fraction of 1: (c) the aggregate number (for example 54.5) must not exceed 55. (3) Despite subsection (1), the Governor-General may appoint more than 55 High Court Judges ( additional Judges ) if the Governor-General thinks that 1 or more additional Judges are required because of— (a) the absence of any Judge on leave preliminary to retirement; or (b) the anticipated absence of any Judge on leave preliminary to retirement. (4) The appointment of an additional Judge under subsection (3) must fill the vacancy next occurring in the office of Judge, not being a vacancy filled by an earlier appointment under subsection (3).