Barristers could be asked to sit as Supreme Court Judges this week to fill a temporary shortfall in staff.

Chief Justice Austin Ward told The Royal Gazette last night he will be the only Judge able to sit in the criminal courts this week because two of his staff are on holiday and two have completed temporary contracts and returned to their old posts.

Puisne Judges Vincent Meerabux and Norma Wade-Miller are on vacation, one returning on October 13 and the other on October 16, and both Philip Storr and Charles-Etta Simmons have come to the end of their 15-month contracts.

They were sworn in last July because two of the three full-time Puisne Judges were going to be tied up for several months with two major international cases, involving Thyssen and Bermuda Fire and Marine Insurance Co Ltd.

While one of the cases has come to an end, the other is still running, meaning Mr. Ward has a shortfall.

He said he hoped to have an additional Judge appointed, but it would take extra money and would ultimately be a Government decision.

Chief Justice says Barristers may be called to fill in "Two Judges are on leave, which leaves us a little bit short, but we are coping,'' said the Chief Justice.

"There will be problems in that we have more work than we have Judges, but we will manage.

"The courts certainly will not close. There are three Puisne Judges and myself. Two are on holiday, one is going to be tied up in this long-running case, and then me.

"Effectively, I'm on my own this week. But I'm going to get some help from the Bar. We will have to appoint a temporary Judge -- a barrister. "One of the results may be that some cases have to be adjourned...'' He said it would take a Cabinet decision to appoint an additional judge from the Bar.

And Mr. Ward said he hoped it would happen soon, but said it was not within his remit.

He added: "Government has its own priorities and it's not for me to tell Government how its money should be spent.

"Supreme Court is not one of the (priorities).

Attorney General Dame Lois Browne-Evans has been off the Island and said last night that she was not aware of the shortfall. But she said, she would investigate the matter today.