News

Three judges are reportedly in the running to fill the US Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia last year, with President Trump expected to appoint an arch conservative to the bench. Trump’s top picks are believed to be William Pryor, Neil Grouch and Thomas Hardiman

A solicitor who was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment for stealing €250,000 from her client account has successfully appealed the severity of her sentence, with the Court of Appeal halving her custodial sentence to one of six months. Delivering the judgment of the three-judge Court, Mr Justice

Dr Katherine Zappone The "honest belief" defence in rape cases will be reviewed by the Law Reform Commission following a Cabinet decision yesterday.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald The process of nominating Irish judges to the European courts does not need to be reformed, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has told TDs.

David Cairns Young Northern Ireland solicitors met in Belfast this month to elect the new Northern Ireland Young Solicitors' Association (NIYSA) committee for 2017.

Justice Minister Claire Sugden Two lawyers are among five people who have been appointed as parole commissioners for Northern Ireland.

Cantillons Solicitors in Cork has announced the appointment of new partners and associate solicitors at the firm, which has re-acquired its former premises at 38 South Mall to accomodate its growth.

Philip Barden A lawyer acting for former British soldiers facing prosecution for their actions during the Troubles has called for an inquiry into whether the prosecutorial processes are fair.

Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir Retired Lord Justice of Appeal, Sir Patrick Coghlin, will chair the independent inquiry into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scandal.

Northern Ireland's Justice Minister Claire Sugden has announced a new partnership between the Northern Ireland Prison Service and the Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust (PRRT) to develop support services for prison officers in Northern Ireland. Ms Sugden said: “Prison officers play an inva

in the decision making process”. As such, the Directive should not be construed in the most onerous manner possible, and that the Courts should be “astute to ensure the objectives of the Directive are met but not in an overly pedantic way”.

Justices in the Supreme Court have held that an Act of Parliament is required to authorise ministers to give Notice of the decision of the UK to withdraw from the European Union, dismissing the appeal of the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union by a majority of 8 to 3. On the devolution

Justice Minister Claire Sugden Northern Ireland's Justice Minister Claire Sugden has announced a pilot scheme to pre-record the cross-examination of vulnerable and intimidated witnesses.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald Plans to introduce a statutory definition of consent are set to be approved by Cabinet today, The Irish Times reports.

Representatives from the Law Societies in each of the four legal jurisdictions in the UK and Ireland met in Belfast today.