The Northern Ireland Court Service (the Court Service) was established in 1979, by the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978, as a separate civil service in Northern Ireland. It was the Lord Chancellor's department in Northern Ireland.
Upon devolution (12 April 2010) it was re-branded the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) when it became an agency of the Department of Justice.
Its role is to:
Provide administrative support for the Northern Ireland courts and Judiciary;
Enforce civil court judgments through a centralised enforcement service provided by the Enforcement of Judgments Office;
Support the Minister of Justice in discharging his ministerial responsibilities in Northern Ireland, including responsibility for judicial appointments and legal aid; and
Provide administrative support for Tribunals.
Additional information can be found on the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service website.