Supreme Court of Ireland Supreme Court Cúirt Uachtarach na hÉireann Annual Report Supreme Court of Ireland Annual Report 2019 Report published by the Supreme Court of Ireland with the support of the Courts Service. Editors: Sarahrose Murphy, Senior Executive Legal Officer to the Chief Justice Patrick Conboy, Executive Legal Officer to the Chief Justice Case summaries prepared by the following Judicial Assistants: Giacomo Bonetto Seán Beatty Laurenz Boss Shane Finn Patricia Erasmus Cormac Hickey Caoimhe Hunter Blair Hansi Fischer Kerrane Rachael O’Byrne Ceara Tonna-Barthet © Supreme Court of Ireland 2020 Cúirt Uachtarach na hÉireann Supreme Court of Ireland Annual Report 2019 Table of Contents Foreword .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 2019 at a glance .................................................................................................................................................................................. 11 About the Supreme Court of Ireland .................................................................................................................................................. 15 The Branches of Government in Ireland ........................................................................................................................................... 16 About the Supreme Court of Ireland .................................................................................................................................................. 17 Background .................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Appellate jurisdiction .................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Appellate constitutional jurisdiction ............................................................................................................................................ 18 Original jurisdiction ...................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Structure of the Courts of Ireland ...................................................................................................................................................... 19 Seat of the Supreme Court ................................................................................................................................................................ 20 The Supreme Court Courtroom .................................................................................................................................................... 21 Journey of a typical Appeal ............................................................................................................................................................... 22 The reformed jurisdiction of the Supreme Court – five years on ..................................................................................................... 26 ‘Leapfrog’ appeals .......................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Case management ........................................................................................................................................................................ 28 Members of the Supreme Court ........................................................................................................................................................ 29 Mr. Justice Frank Clarke ................................................................................................................................................................... 30 The Role of the Chief Justice .............................................................................................................................................................. 31 President of the Supreme Court and judicial functions ............................................................................................................... 31 Presidential Commission .............................................................................................................................................................. 31 Council of State .............................................................................................................................................................................. 31 Other responsibilities .................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Appointments ............................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Commissioner for Oaths .............................................................................................................................................................. 32 Admittance of barristers .............................................................................................................................................................. 32 Notaries Public ............................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Declarations of newly appointed judges ...................................................................................................................................... 33 Statement to Mark the Opening of the 2019/2020 Legal Year ................................................................................................... 33 International Engagement ........................................................................................................................................................... 34 Mr. Justice Donal O’Donnell ......................................................................................................................................................... 35 Mr. Justice William M. McKechnie ............................................................................................................................................. 36 Mr. Justice John MacMenamin .................................................................................................................................................... 37 Ms. Justice Elizabeth Dunne ........................................................................................................................................................ 38 Mr. Justice Peter Charleton ......................................................................................................................................................... 39 Ms. Justice Iseult O’Malley .......................................................................................................................................................... 40 Ms. Justice Mary Irvine ................................................................................................................................................................. 41 Ms. Justice Marie Baker ............................................................................................................................................................... 42 Mr. Justice George Birmingham .................................................................................................................................................. 43 Mr. Justice Peter Kelly ................................................................................................................................................................. 44 Retirement and Appointments .......................................................................................................................................................... 45 The Constitution of Ireland ................................................................................................................................................................ 47 The structure of the Constitution .................................................................................................................................................. 47 The Constitution and the Courts .................................................................................................................................................. 48 Amending and Interpreting the Constitution .............................................................................................................................. 49 2 | Supreme Court of Ireland Annual Report 2019 Sixth enrolment of the Constitution ................................................................................................................................................. 50 Women on the Supreme Court ..........................................................................................................................................................