The Honourable Madam Justice McBride sworn into office as a Lady Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland
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Madam Justice McBride
His Majesty the King has approved the appointment of The Honourable Madam Justice McBride as a Lady Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland. She was sworn into office today at a ceremony in the Royal Courts of Justice.
Growing up in Downpatrick, Co. Down Madam Justice McBride attended Clough Primary School and Down High School. She told the Times in 2015 that as a child she wanted to be the owner of a sweet shop. Instead, she graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with an LLB Honours degree in 1988 and was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1989. She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in September 2011.
During her career at the Bar she practised in chancery, family, civil and international law and served vice chair of the Bar Council from 2012 to 2014.
Madam Justice McBride was appointed as the first female High Court Judge in Northern Ireland on 23 October 2015 and at the time, then chair of the Bar Council, Gerry McAlinden, said her absence from the Bar would be felt.
In September 2017 Madam Justice McBride was appointed Chancery Judge. In October 2022 she was appointed Commercial Judge and in September 2025 she was appointed Senior Crown Court Judge.
Outside of practice Madam Justice McBride has also made a significant contribution to legal education by tutoring at Queen’s University, Belfast and the Institute of Professional Legal Studies; writing articles for leading legal journals and giving keynote lectures at various local, UK and international legal conferences. In recognition of her long service as a tutor and guest lecturer she was appointed an Honorary Lecturer at Queen’s University, Belfast in 2006.
On 6 September 2021 Madam Justice McBride was appointed Judge in Residence at Queen’s University Belfast. She is currently a Visitor of Queen’s University, Belfast and serves on the Council of Legal Education and is a member of QUB nominations committee for Senate.
Madam Justice McBride has also held other roles in public life. She was appointed by the Lord Chief Justice as deputy chair of the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland in October 2015 and served in this position until 2021.
She is currently the president of the Northen Ireland Medico Legal Society and president designate of the Truth, Recovery and Redress Service.
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