Judge Rice was sworn into office as a district judge in the magistrates’ courts before Dame Siobhan Keegan, the lady chief justice of Northern Ireland, on Friday.

She celebrated her appointment with friends and colleagues at Law Society House.

Judge Rice was admitted to the roll of solicitors in Northern Ireland in 2005 after completing her training with Con O’Hagan Solicitors in Lurgan, and served as president of the Law Society in 2018/19.

Law Society president Colin Mitchell said: “On behalf of the solicitor profession in Northern Ireland and the Law Society, I congratulate our colleague Suzanne Rice on her appointment as District Judge (Magistrates’ Courts).

“We wish Judge Rice every success for the future.”