Call for Papers – ‘Judicial Conduct in Ireland: A Framework Fit for Purpose?’ & “Judicial Education and Training in Twenty-First Century Ireland: European and International Perspectives”

‘Judicial Conduct in Ireland: A Framework Fit for Purpose?’

Online Seminar
Friday 22 October 2021

Irish Council for Civil Liberties
Whitaker Institute and School of Law,
National University of Ireland Galway
School of Law, University of Limerick

Papers are invited from scholars and practitioners for a seminar on Judicial Conduct in Ireland and the reforms under the Judicial Council Act 2019. Abstracts (maximum 500 words) to be submitted by Friday 20 August 2021.

Background

The establishment of the Judicial Council is a significant development in the ongoing process of reform and modernisation of the Irish court system. Two decades after the establishment of the Courts Service, which gave proper status to the administration of justice, the creation of a body dedicated to supporting and assisting with the particular work of judges brings into sharp focus some key issues and controversies in the legal system. The functions of the Council include promoting and maintaining excellence in the exercise by judges of their judicial functions, high standards of conduct among judges, the effective and efficient use of resources, continuing education of judges, respect for the independence of the judiciary, and public confidence in the judiciary and the administration of justice. Developing mechanisms, processes, and institutional arrangements to achieve these challenging but very desirable goals will provide the Irish judiciary, and the Irish people, with a system that protects judicial independence and vindicates human rights. Ireland is in a relatively unique position in not having any formal system for complaints and investigation of judicial misconduct, although one will be established in the near future. The recent controversy related to the ‘Golf-gate’ event also demonstrated the importance and need for established and formalised processes for the investigation of judicial misconduct and for the availability of formal sanctions and a set process for initiating the judicial removal process, with in-built protections for judicial independence and for transparency

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“Judicial Education and Training in Twenty-First Century Ireland: European and International Perspectives”

Online Seminar
Friday 17 September 2021

Irish Council for Civil Liberties
Whitaker Institute and School of Law,
National University of Ireland Galway
School of Law, University of Limerick

Papers are invited from scholars and practitioners for a seminar on the judicial education and training in Ireland. Abstracts (maximum 500 words) to be submitted by Friday 23 July 2021.

Background
The establishment of the Judicial Council is a significant development in the ongoing process of reform and modernisation of the Irish court system. Two decades after the establishment of the Courts Service, which gave proper status to the administration of justice, the creation of a body dedicated to supporting and assisting with the particular work of judges brings into sharp focus some key issues and controversies in the legal system.

The functions of the Council include promoting and maintaining excellence in the exercise by judges of their judicial functions, high standards of conduct among judges, the effective and efficient use of resources, continuing education of judges, respect for the independence of the judiciary, and public confidence in the judiciary and the administration of justice. Developing mechanisms, processes, and institutional arrangements to achieve these challenging but very desirable goals will provide the Irish judiciary, and the Irish people, with a system that protects judicial independence and vindicates human rights.

Currently in Ireland there is no well-developed system of judicial education and training. Training for judges is mandatory since 1996, under Section 16 of the Court and Court Officers Act 1995, but what has been provided to date is relatively limited: conferences and seminars, bench books, limited induction, shadowing, and funding for judges to attend courses abroad.

From an international perspective, this is very unusual. In a survey from 2016, it was noted that in all of the 10 European jurisdictions surveyed, there existed mandatory initial or induction training for all new judicial appointees. This included England and Wales. However, no such comprehensive system exists in Ireland. A Council of Europe Report on efficiency of justice in European Judicial Systems from 2018 notes that Ireland is one of only three States that do not provide continuous training.

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