Benchers are, and have been for centuries, the governing bodies of the four
Inns of Court in London and King's Inns, Dublin.
The Benchers of the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland governed the Inn until the enactment of the Constitution of the Inn in 1983, which provides that the government of the Inn is shared between the Benchers, the Executive Council of the Inn and members of the Inn assembled in General Meeting.
All Benchers are senior lawyers drawn from the Bench and the Bar. The Benchers are comprised of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Northern Ireland, that is, the Lord Chief Justice, the Lord Justices of Appeal, and the Judges of the Court. The Attorney General and Solicitor General are Benchers ex officio, until they cease to hold the respective offices of Attorney General and Solicitor General.
Also included are the Chairman for the time being of the Bar Council of Northern Ireland, four County Court judges and senior members of the profession. There are at present 20 Benchers appointed from the barrister members of the Inn of Court.