Judicial Appointments

Mr Justice Michael Peart, the first solicitor appointed to the High Court, has retired from the Court of Appeal. The president of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, led tributes to the retiring judge on Friday.

The Association of Judges of Ireland (AJI) raised concerns about the quality of applicants for appointment to the bench in a letter to the Public Service Pay Commission two years ago. The letter, written by Mr Justice George Birmingham in his capacity as association president, outlines concerns amon

Seven judges have been nominated by Government for appointment to the enlarged Court of Appeal. Legislation to increase the number of ordinary judges in the Court of Appeal from nine to 15 was approved by the Oireachtas in July.

Mr Justice Bernard McCloskey has been sworn in as a Lord Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland. The senior judge, who was appointed to the High Court in 2008, was sworn into office at a ceremony in the Royal Courts of Justice this morning.

Her Majesty The Queen has approved the appointment of Lord Reed as the next president of the UK Supreme Court. Lord Reed will succeed Baroness Hale of Richmond as president, alongside three additional appointments as justices.

Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly has been nominated by ministers for appointment to the Court of Appeal. The judge, who called to the Bar in 1988 and the Inner Bar in 2004, has sat on the High Court bench since 2014.

Sir Donnell Deeny, Lord Justice of Appeal, is set to retire from the bench this autumn. Lord Justice Deeny, who was appointed to the Court of Appeal bench in 2017, will turn 70 next April.

The Government has accepted an amendment to its controversial Judicial Appointments Commission Bill to make it easier for sitting judges of the superior courts to be promoted. The bill originally provided that a sitting judge of the superior courts who wanted to apply for a vacancy in the High Court

The Government's embattled Judicial Appointments Commission Bill has not completed committee stage in the Seanad before Easter despite a bid to end the long-running parliamentary debate yesterday morning. Senators defeated an attempt to guillotine the committee stage debate on the bill, which Justic

Ms Justice Mary Irvine has been nominated by the Government for elevation to the Supreme Court. She previously served as a High Court judge from 2007 until 2014, when she was moved to the then-new Court of Appeal.

Barrister Mark McGarrity was sworn in as a district judge in the Magistrates' Courts this morning. A graduate of Queen's University Belfast and the Institute of Professional Legal Studies (IPLS), he called to The Bar of Northern Ireland in 2004 and The Bar of Ireland in 2011.

The number of ordinary judges in the Court of Appeal is set to grow from nine to 15 under new plans approved by the Government. The move has been sparked by fears that waiting times in the court, particularly on the civil side, could end up at a similar level to those in the Supreme Court before 201

The judicial retirement age should be raised to 74, the President of the UK Supreme Court has said. Lady Hale, 74, told peers that the judiciary should seek applicants for the High Court bench from lawyers in their 60s, who will no longer be concerned about reaching their maximum earning power.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has warned that the slow passage of legislation that would reform the appointment of judges could destabilise the Government. Mr Flanagan was referring to how the bill has been handled in the Seanad, where some Senators have engaged in filibustering.

Barristers John Jordan SC and Alexander Owens SC have been nominated by the Government for appointment to the High Court. They will fill the vacancies created following the elevation of Ms Justice Caroline Costello and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy to the Court of Appeal last November.