Issued by the Government Press Office
2 October 2018
Appointments to the High Court, Circuit Court and District Court
At its meeting today, the Government nominated Mr. Garrett Simons, SC, for appointment by the President to the High Court, Mr. James McCourt, Solicitor, for appointment by the President to the Circuit Court and Mr. John Hughes, Solicitor, for appointment by the President to the District Court.
The vacancy in the High Court arises from the retirement of The Hon Mr Justice Paul Butler on 3 September 2018, the vacancy in the Circuit Court arises from the retirement of His Hon Judge Michael O’Shea on 31 July 2018 and the vacancy in the District Court arises from the retirement of Judge James O’Connor on 30 June 2018.
The Government has taken the necessary steps to formally advise President Higgins of the nominations in accordance with constitutional procedure.
Note for Editors
The nomination for appointment to the Circuit Court follows on from the Government’s decision of 10 July 2018 to nominate, in principle, Mr. McCourt for appointment by the President to the Circuit Court and the nominations for appointment to the High Court and District Court follows the receipt of lists of suitable candidates from the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board.
Limited biographical details:
Mr. Garrett Simons, SC
· Educated: Trinity College Dublin and the Honourable Society of King’s Inns
· Called to the Bar: 1996
· Called to the Inner Bar: 2007
· Practises primarily in Public Administration Law with an emphasis on Environmental & Planning Law as well as Immigration Law
· Author of legal textbook, Planning & Development Law, and a member of the Editorial Board of the Irish Law Reports Monthly.
Mr. James McCourt, Solicitor
· Educated: University College Dublin and the Law Society of Ireland
· Enrolled as a Solicitor: August 1981
· Accredited Mediator
· Partner in O’Mara, Geraghty, McCourt Solicitors with wide experience in criminal law, family law, personal injuries, commercial litigation, employment litigation, landlord and tenant litigation and probate disputes
· Past President of the Law Society (2012 - 2013)
· Chair of the Independent Review Panel in respect of Permanent TSB tracker mortgages and Chair of the Disciplinary Committee Leinster (Branch) Rugby
· Previously Chair of the Independent Review Panel Bank of Scotland Ireland on tracker mortgage issues.
Mr. John Hughes, Solicitor
· Educated: Dublin City University, University College Galway and Harvard Law School
· Enrolled as a Solicitor: 1996
· CEDR Accredited Mediator
· State Solicitor since for County Offaly 2013
· Managing Partner in Hughes, Kehoe & Co Solicitors and practises primarily in Criminal Law, Family Law and Litigation
· Volunteer with youth support groups and mentoring programmes.