List of Justices of the Supreme Court of Ireland
Encyclopedia
List of Justices
denotes Chief Justices, denotes currently-serving justices| Judge | Born/Died | Active Service | Term as Chief Justice Chief Justice of Ireland The Chief Justice of Ireland is the president of the Supreme Court of Ireland.Under Constitution of Ireland, the Chief Justice of Ireland also occupies several positions ex officio, these include;* A possible judge of the High Court.... |
Notes |
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| Hugh Kennedy Hugh Kennedy Hugh Kennedy was the only Attorney-General of Southern Ireland and the first Attorney-General of the Irish Free State, and later the first Chief Justice of the Irish Free State. As a member of the Irish Free State Constitution Commission, he was also one of the constitutional architects of the... † |
1879–1936 | 1924–1936 | 1924–1936 | First Chief Justice |
| Gerald Fitzgibbon Gerald Fitzgibbon Gerald Fitzgibbon was an Irish barrister, independent Teachta Dála and one of the original judges of the Supreme Court of Ireland... |
1866–1942 | 1924–1938 | — | |
| Charles Andrew O'Connor Charles Andrew O'Connor Charles Andrew O'Connor PC was an Irish judge, who served as the last Master of the Rolls in Ireland.-Background and education:... |
1854–1928 | 1924–1925 | — | |
| Timothy Sullivan Timothy Sullivan (Irish judge) Timothy Sullivan was Chief Justice of Ireland from 1936 to 1946.He was born in Dublin, the third son of Timothy Daniel Sullivan, a prominent Home Rule MP and Lord Mayor of Dublin. Through his sister Anne who married Dr. Thomas Higgins he was the uncle of Kevin O'Higgins and great-uncle of another... † |
1874–1949 | 1924–1946 | 1936–1946 | Ex officio as President of the High Court 1924–1936 |
| James Murnaghan | 1881–1973 | 1925–1953 | — | |
| James Geoghegan James Geoghegan James Geoghegan was an Irish politician, and later a justice of the Supreme Court.He was first elected to Dáil Éireann in a by-election on 13 June 1930 as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Longford–Westmeath constituency. He served in Éamon de Valera's first cabinet in 1932–33 as Minister for... |
1886–1951 | 1936–1949 | — | |
| Conor Maguire Conor Maguire Conor Alexander Maguire was an Irish politician, lawyer and judge. He was a founding member of the Legal and Economic Society in UCD in 1911; now known as the University College Dublin Law Society... † |
1889–1971 | 1936–1961 | 1946–1961 | Ex officio 1936–1946 |
| James Creed Meredith James Creed Meredith James Creed Meredith K.C., LL.D. was an Irish nationalist of the early 20th century, who upheld Brehon Law. He was President of the Supreme Court of the Irish Republic, Chief Judicial Commissioner of Ireland and a Judge of the High Court and the Supreme Court of Ireland... |
1875–1942 | 1937–1942 | — | |
| William John Johnston | ? | 1939–1940 | — | |
| John O'Byrne John O'Byrne John O'Byrne was the second Attorney-General of the Irish Free State, serving between 7 June 1924 and 9 January 1926.-Early life:... |
1884–1954 | 1940–1954 | — | |
| William Black | ? | 1942–1951 | — | |
| George Gavan Duffy George Gavan Duffy -Family:George Gavan Duffy was born in Rock Ferry, Cheshire, England in 1882, the son of Sir Charles Gavan Duffy and his third wife, Louise. His half-brother Sir Frank Gavan Duffy was the fourth Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, sitting on the bench of the High Court from 1913 to... |
1882–1951 | 1946–1951 | — | Ex officio 1946–1951 |
| Cecil Lavery Cecil Lavery Cecil Patrick Lavery was an Irish lawyer, Fine Gael Party politician and judge. He was elected as a TD and then as a Senator, and served as Attorney General before being appointed as a Supreme Court judge.-Early life:... |
1894–1973 | 1950–1966 | — | |
| Cahir Davitt Cahir Davitt Cahir Davitt was an Irish Judge.-Youth:He was born in County Dublin one 15 August 1894 as the second son of the Fenian and Land Leaguer Michael Davitt... |
1894–1986 | 1951–1966 | — | Ex officio 1951–1966 |
| T. C. Kingsmill Moore Theodore Conyngham Kingsmill Moore Theodore Conyngham Kingsmill Moore was an Irish judge, politician and author.T. C. Kingsmill Moore was educated at Marlborough College and Trinity College, Dublin. Whilst Auditor of the College Historical Society, W.B. Yeats spoke at the Inaugural meeting of his session... |
1893–1979 | 1951–1966 | — | |
| Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh served as the fifth President of Ireland, from 1974 to 1976. He resigned in 1976 after a clash with the government. He also had a notable legal career, including serving as Chief Justice of Ireland.- Early life :Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, one of four children, was born on 12 February... † |
1911–1978 | 1953–1973 | 1961–1973 | |
| Martin Maguire | ? | 1954–1961 | — | |
| Kevin Haugh Kevin Haugh Kevin O'Hanrahan Haugh was an Irish barrister and judge.He was born in Dublin and educated at Blackrock College and University College Dublin; called to the Bar 1925, Senior Counsel 1938. He was a leading junior prosecutor for the State and Attorney General 1940-1942. He was appointed a High... |
1901–1969 | 1961–1969 | — | |
| Brian Walsh Brian Walsh (judge) Brian Walsh was an Irish supreme court and European Court of Human Rights justice and barrister.Described as the "outstanding legal reforming mind of his generation" by Prof... |
1918–1998 | 1961–1990 | — | |
| Frederick Budd | ? | 1966–1975 | — | |
| William Fitzgerald William FitzGerald (Irish judge) William O'Brien FitzGerald was an Irish lawyer and judge. He was born in County Cork in 1906, and was educated in Belvedere College, Dublin, and King's Inns. He was called to the Bar in 1927 and to the Inner Bar in 1944... † |
1906–1974 | 1966–1974 | 1973–1974 | |
| Aindrias Ó Caoimh Aindrias Ó Caoimh (Attorney General) Aindrias Ó Caoimh , also known as Andreas O'Keeffe and Ayindries Ó Cuiv, was Attorney General of Ireland from 30 January 1954 to 21 June 1954, and again from 20 March 1957 to 15 March 1965. For the time between his terms, the position was held by Patrick McGilligan. He was President of the High... |
1912–1994 | 1966–1974 | — | Ex officio 1966–1974 |
| Richard McLoughlin | ? | 1969–1972 | — | |
| Seamus Henchy | ? | 1972–1988 | — | |
| Frank Griffin | ? | 1973–1991 | — | |
| Thomas Finlay Thomas Finlay (judge) Thomas Aloysius Finlay is a former Irish Fine Gael politician and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He is the second son of Thomas Finlay, a politician and senior counsel whose career was cut short by his early death in 1932. He was educated at Clongowes Wood College, University College Dublin... † |
1922– | 1974–1994 | 1985–1994 | Ex officio 1974–1985 |
| Tom O'Higgins Tom O'Higgins Thomas Francis O'Higgins was an Irish Fine Gael politician, a barrister and a judge.Tom O'Higgins was born in Cork in 1916. He was the son of Thomas F. O'Higgins and the nephew of Kevin O'Higgins... † |
1916–2003 | 1974–1985 | 1974–1985 | |
| John Kenny | ? | 1975–1982 | — | |
| Weldon Parke | ? | 1976–1981 | — | |
| Anthony J. Hederman | ? | 1981–1993 | — | |
| Niall McCarthy Niall McCarthy (judge) Niall McCarthy was a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland and a barrister.-Early life:His father was a district court judge. Educated at Clongowes Wood College, the Christian Brothers in Dun Laoghaire and University College Dublin, he was called to the Bar in 1945 and the inner Bar in 1959... |
1925–1991 | 1982–1991 | — | |
| Liam Hamilton Liam Hamilton Liam Hamilton was an Irish lawyer and judge. He was educated at C.B.S. Mitchelstown, University College Dublin and King's Inns. He was called to the Bar in 1956 and to the Inner Bar in 1968.... † |
1928–2000 | 1985–2000 | 1994–2000 | Ex officio 1985–1994 |
| Hugh O'Flaherty | ? | 1990–1999 | — | |
| Seamus Egan | ? | 1991–1995 | — | |
| John Blayney John Blayney John Joseph Blayney, KSG was a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland from 1992 until 1997, when he retired from a long legal career, and his position on the bench was filled by Justice Henry Denis Barron... |
? | 1992–1997 | — | |
| Susan Denham Susan Denham Susan Denham is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland. She was appointed by the President of Ireland on 25 July 2011... † |
1945– | 1992–present | 2011–present | First female appointed, first female Chief Justice |
| Harry Whelehan Harry Whelehan Harry Whelehan is a former Irish Attorney general and for six days was President of the High Court.-X Case controversy:In 1992 as attorney general, Harry Whelehan sought an injunction in the X Case to prevent a 14 year old rape victim having an abortion... |
? | 1994 | — | Ex officio 1994 |
| Declan Costello Declan Costello Declan Costello was an Irish jurist and Fine Gael party politician, who served as a Teachta Dála for twenty years, as Attorney General for four years and as a High Court judge for another twenty years before his retirement.... |
1926–2011 | 1995–1998 | — | Ex officio 1995–1998 |
| Donal Barrington | ? | 1996–2000 | — | |
| Ronan Keane Ronan Keane The Hon. Ronan Keane , S.C., was Chief Justice of Ireland from 2000 to 2004. Keane was educated at Blackrock College, Dublin, and graduated from University College Dublin in 1953 with a BA in Modern History. He was called to the Bar in 1954 and became a Senior Counsel in 1970. He was appointed... † |
1932– | 1996–2004 | 2000–2004 | |
| Kevin Lynch | ? | 1996–1999 | — | |
| Francis Murphy | ? | 1996–2002 | — | |
| Henry Barron | 1928–2010 | 1997–2003 | — | |
| Frederick Morris | ? | 1998–2001 | — | Ex officio 1998–2001 |
| John L. Murray John L. Murray John Loyola Murray is an Irish judge and served as the Chief Justice of Ireland from 2004 to 2011.Murray was born in Limerick in 1943 and educated at Crescent College, Limerick, Rockwell College, County Tipperary, University College Dublin, and the Honorable Society of King's Inns. He was... † |
1943– | 1999–present | 2004–2011 | |
| Nial Fennelly Nial Fennelly Nial Fennelly has served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland since 2000 and was an Advocate General of the European Court of Justice from 1995 to 2000. He was educated at Clongowes Wood College, took a degree in economics at University College Dublin and completed his Bar studies at King's... |
1942– | 2000–present | — | |
| Hugh Geoghegan Hugh Geoghegan Hugh Geoghegan was a justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland of Ireland from 8 March 2000 , having been nominated by the Government of Ireland on 22 February 2000 until May 2010 when he retired. He replaced Mr Justice Donal Barrington... |
1938– | 2000–2010 | — | |
| Adrian Hardiman Adrian Hardiman Adrian Hardiman has been a justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland since 7 February 2000. He received the rare honour of being appointed directly from the Bar to Ireland's highest court. Many commentators were surprised by his appointment as he was a relatively young man making it likely he would... |
1951– | 2000–present | — | |
| Catherine McGuinness Catherine McGuinness Catherine McGuinness , is a former President of the Law Reform Commission and a former judge of the Circuit Court 1994-1996 , justice of the High Court 1996-2000 and Supreme Court of Ireland 2000-2006... |
1934– | 2000–2006 | — | |
| Joseph Finnegan | 1942– | 2001–present | — | Ex officio 2001–2006 |
| Brian McCracken Brian McCracken Brian Moore McCracken is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland. He is an officer of the Trinity College, Dublin - Visitor of the College.-Education and career:... |
1934– | 2002–2006 | — | |
| Fidelma Macken Fidelma Macken Fidelma O'Kelly Macken is a judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland since 2005. She was appointed a High Court judge in 1998. She succeeded John L. Murray, Chief Justice since July 2004, as Ireland's appointee on the European Court of Justice from 5 October 1999 to 22 September 2004... |
1945– | 2005–present | — | |
| Richard Johnson Richard Johnson (judge) Richard Johnson was the President of the Irish High Court from November 2006 until October 2009. He was the second most senior Irish judge after the Chief Justice John L. Murray.... |
1937– | 2006–2009 | — | Ex officio 2006–2009 |
| Nicholas Kearns Nicholas Kearns Nicholas Kearns is the President of the High Court of Ireland, and ex-officio member of the Supreme Court. He was appointed a judge of the High Court in 1998 and was appointed to the Supreme Court in November 2004. He is the most senior Irish judge after Chief Justice Susan Denham. He was... |
1946– | 2009–present | — | Ex officio since 2009 |
| Donal O'Donnell Donal O'Donnell Donal O'Donnell is a judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland since 2010.He was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and was educated at St. Mary's Christian Brothers' Grammar School, Belfast, University College Dublin, King's Inns and the University of Virginia.... |
? | 2010–present | — | |
| Liam McKechnie Liam McKechnie Liam McKechie is a judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland. He was educated at Presentation Brothers College, Cork, University College Cork and the King's Inns. He was called to the bar in 1972 and became a Senior Counsel in 1987. He was elected chairman of the Bar Council in 1999, and was appointed... |
1951– | 2010–present | — |
External links
*The Superior Courts of Law: 'Official' Law Reporting in Ireland 1866-2006, Eamonn G Hall, Pages 516-519, ISBN 9780946738083