Judicial Appointments

Ireland's former chief justice Frank Clarke has resigned as a judge of the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) Courts and former High Court president Peter Kelly has been urged to follow suit in light of a row over the UAE's record on human rights. The two retired judges were sworn in last wee

Ireland's former chief justice Frank Clarke and former High Court president Peter Kelly have been sworn in as judges of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts. The virtual swearing-in ceremony was held in the presence of Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, deputy ruler

Tributes have been paid to Ms Justice Mary Irvine on the occasion of her retirement as president of the High Court. Attorney General Paul Gallagher SC, Bar Council chairperson Maura McNally SC and Law Society president Michelle Ní Longáin were among those who spoke during the judge's f

Ministers have agreed to nominate barrister John Martin for appointment as a Circuit Court judge and solicitor Vincent Deane as a District Court judge. The Circuit Court vacancy arises following the retirement of Judge Petria McDonnell last month, while the vacancy on the District Court will arise f

Legal academic Dr Patrick O'Brien examines the long-running saga over judicial appointments reform in Ireland. Judicial appointments in Ireland are shortly due to be put on a more formal footing. When the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022 is enacted, it will provide for an appointments comm

Judge Patricia Smyth has been appointed as presiding County Court judge and Recorder of Belfast. The five-year appointment by the Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Dame Siobhan Keegan, will take effect from Monday.

Mr Justice David Barniville has been nominated by ministers for appointment as president of the High Court. Currently an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice Barniville will succeed Ms Justice Mary Irvine, who is taking early retirement from the middle of July.

Solicitors Anne Marshall and Alana McSorley have been appointed as district judges in Northern Ireland. The two women were sworn into office yesterday before Dame Siobhan Keegan, the Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.

Government plans to exclude representatives of the legal professions from the proposed Judicial Appointments Commission will have "an extraordinary negative impact", the Law Society of Ireland has said. Responding to the recent publication of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill, Law Society pr

A non-statutory advisory committee will be established to help identify candidates for the post of president of the High Court, the government has announced. Ms Justice Mary Irvine, who has served in the role since 2020, is due to retire in July 2022. The 65-year-old judge told colleagues of her dec

On 31 March, justice minister Helen McEntee announced the introduction of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022, which aims to overhaul the current system for judicial appointments in Ireland. The legislative proposals arrived to much fanfare from the Department of Justice, with the bill be

Mr Justice Senan Allen has been nominated by ministers for appointment as an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal. A judge on the High Court since 2018, Mr Justice Allen will fill the vacancy arising from the appointment of Mr Justice Brian Murray to the Supreme Court in February.

Ms Justice Mary Irvine, the president of the High Court, will take early retirement later this year, according to reports. The 65-year-old judge is said to have told colleagues of her decision at a private meeting in the Four Courts on Friday morning.

Sitting judges seeking promotion to a higher court will have to undergo an interview under the government's proposed reform of the judicial appointments process. The Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022, which was published today, will introduce the most significant reforms to the judicial app

Legislation to introduce the most significant reforms to the judicial appointments process in 25 years will be published within weeks and enacted by the end of September, the government has announced. The enactment of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2020 is one of 159 actions to be deliver