Controversial Magistrate Edward King is to be reassigned to criminal duties in a shake-up in the lower courts.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said there was no particular reason for the move other than that changes stop magistrates from getting bored.

He said: ?Every now and then I shift the courts around. It?s my intention to shift the civil work to Mr. (William) Francis and put most of the criminal work with Mr. King?s court.?

Mr. King has been a controversial figure.

In 2000, Chief Justice Austin Ward carried out an inquiry after Acting Director of Prosecutions William Pearce demanded disciplinary action against Mr. King.

The demand followed a bitter courtroom argument when Mr. King allegedly ordered then Crown counsel Larry Mussenden to be taken from the court to Hamilton Police Station in handcuffs.

Mr. Mussenden, who is now Attorney General, spent 20 minutes in custody in the station following the row.

Mr. King denied ordering the lawyer to be taken away in handcuffs, although he did admit repeatedly calling him a coward.

A year later, Bar Association President Trevor Moniz gave a dossier of complaints to the Chief Justice over Mr. King?s behaviour.

Mr. King was then put into civil court where his controversial style got less Press attention. But Mr. Warner said he had no difficulty with Mr. King ? a fellow Barbadian.

?He is a fine magistrate,? he said. ?He?s expected to perform all the duties, civil or criminal.?

Mr. King?s reassignment is effective this week.

Both Mr. King and Mr. Francis are above the official retirement age of 65 for magistrates and advertisements have been placed both locally and overseas for their posts.

Mr. Warner said he understood a number of local candidates had applied.

Mr. Warner has recently returned to the lower court after a three-year spell as an Acting Supreme Court Justice but said he had not applied for a permanent post.

Former Magistrate Carlisle Greaves was promoted to Supreme Court Justice last week alongside veteran lawyer Geoffrey Bell.