509Acting President

509 Acting President S. 509(1) amended by No. 5/2013 s. 52. (1) The Governor in Council may appoint a magistrate (other than a reserve magistrate) nominated by the President to be Acting President during any period when— (a) there is a vacancy in the office of President; or (b) the President is absent on leave or for any reason is temporarily unable to perform the duties of the office of President. (2) The Chief Magistrate or a magistrate nominated by the President shall act as President if there is— (a) a vacancy in the office of the President; or (b) a period when the President is absent on leave or for any reason is temporarily unable to perform the duties of the office of President— and the Governor in Council has not appointed an Acting President under subsection (1). (3) The Chief Magistrate or a magistrate nominated by the President shall not act under subsection (2) as President for a term exceeding 3 months. (4) A magistrate who is appointed as Acting President under subsection (1) or who acts as President under subsection (2) has, during the period of the appointment or the period of acting as President, the same powers and duties as the President. (5) Service in the office of Acting President must not be taken to be service in the office of judge of the County Court. S. 509A inserted by No. 16/2016 s. 187.