Magistrate Ed King's controversial reign in the lower court could end this month.

Mr. King (pictured) reaches 65 - the age magistrates are usually expected to retire - on August 27. But the constitution allows magistrates to stay on at Government's discretion.

Deputy Governor Nick Carter said he was expecting to talk to the Chief Justice Austin Ward, who is on vacation, about Mr. King's future. Mr. King is also on vacation and could not be reached for comment.

Bar council President David Kessaram said he was not aware that Mr. King had reached 65 but would raise the matter at the next Bar Council meeting this month.

"I have no information as to how well he's performing now."

Asked for his own views on Mr. King's performance Mr. Kessaram said: "I don't know. I don't practice in Magistrate's court myself. I rely on others to tell me.

"We all know he was a controversial figure in the past."

In 2000 Chief Justice Austin Ward carried out an inquiry after Acting Director of Prosecutions William Pearce demanded disciplinary action against Mr. King following 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 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. That same year, despite being the longest serving Magistrate, Mr. King was passed over for the job as senior Magistrate. Archie Warner got the post.

Mr. Warner was then replaced by Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves when Mr. Warner was put in Supreme Court.

A year later the Bar Association President Trevor Moniz gave a dossier of complaints to the Chief Justice over Mr. King's behaviour. Mr King also famously made lawyer Juliana Jack cry during an appeal which she won.

Mr. King was put into civil court where his controversial style got less press attention.

Last night one lawyer said the opportunity should be seized to get rid of Mr. King.

She said: "I still know a lot of junior council who come back from his court extremely upset. It suggests not much has changed in the way he treats lawyers.

"There is no need to denigrate lawyers for the fun of it. He should make a ruling on the law without all the insults."

However one court source praised Mr. King for his no-nonsense approach which cut through the waffle and theatrics. "He doesn't tolerate any legal shenanigans. He sticks to his guns. You have to present good legal fact with good research.

"But he is a loose cannon on other occasions."