Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland
Encyclopedia
The Court of King's Bench (or Court of Queen's Bench during the reign of a Queen) was one of the senior courts of common law
in Ireland
. It was a mirror of the Court of King's Bench in England. The Lord Chief Justice was the most senior judge in the court.
The King's Bench was one of the "four courts" which sat in the building in Dublin still known as "The Four Courts
"
The Annals of the Four Masters
dates the appointment of a John, Bishop of Norwich, as Lord Justice over Ireland to 1208. The office under its full title was created during the Lordship of Ireland
(1171-1536) and continued in existence under the Kingdom of Ireland (1536-1800) and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Prior to the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Ireland) 1877
, the Lord Chief Justice presided over the Court of King's/Queen's Bench, and as such ranked foremost amongst the judges sitting at common law. After 1877, the Lord Chief Justice assumed the presidency of the Queen's Bench Division of the new High Court of Justice, which sat permanently in the Four Courts in Dublin.
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It was a mirror of the Court of King's Bench in England. The Lord Chief Justice was the most senior judge in the court.
The King's Bench was one of the "four courts" which sat in the building in Dublin still known as "The Four Courts
Four Courts
The Four Courts in Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's main courts building. The Four Courts are the location of the Supreme Court, the High Court and the Dublin Circuit Court. The building until 2010 also formerly was the location for the Central Criminal Court.-Gandon's Building:Work based on...
"
The Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
dates the appointment of a John, Bishop of Norwich, as Lord Justice over Ireland to 1208. The office under its full title was created during the Lordship of Ireland
Lordship of Ireland
The Lordship of Ireland refers to that part of Ireland that was under the rule of the king of England, styled Lord of Ireland, between 1177 and 1541. It was created in the wake of the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169–71 and was succeeded by the Kingdom of Ireland...
(1171-1536) and continued in existence under the Kingdom of Ireland (1536-1800) and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Prior to the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Ireland) 1877
Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Ireland) 1877
The Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1877 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that brought about a major reorganisation of the senior courts in Ireland.-Provisions:...
, the Lord Chief Justice presided over the Court of King's/Queen's Bench, and as such ranked foremost amongst the judges sitting at common law. After 1877, the Lord Chief Justice assumed the presidency of the Queen's Bench Division of the new High Court of Justice, which sat permanently in the Four Courts in Dublin.
Chief Justice of the King's Bench
- 1300 Walter L'Enfant
- 1342 Elias de Asshebournham
- 1346 John Hunt
- 1356 John de Rednesse
- 1371 William de Skipwith
- 1373 John Keppok, or Keppock
- 1381 Sir Thomas de Mortimer, knt.
- 1385 John Shriggely, from the Exchequer
- 1388 Richard PlunkettRichard PlunkettRichard Plunkett was an eminent Irish judge and statesman who held the offices of Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland and Lord Chancellor of Ireland...
, July 10 - 1388 Peter Rowe, Sept 23
- 1403 Stephen Bray, from the common pleas
- 1426 Henry Fortescue
- 1429 Stephen Bray, again
- 1434 Christopher Bernevall, or Barnewall, 2nd justice
- 1446 Robert Bye
- 1447 Robert Plunket
- 1447 James Alleyn
- 1457 Nicholas Barnewall
- 1461 Thomas Plunket
- 1468 John Chevir
- 1474 Phillip Bermingham (d 1490, buried St. Mary's Abbey, DublinSt. Mary's Abbey, DublinSt. Mary's Abbey is a former Cistercian abbey located near Abbey Street in Dublin, Ireland. Its territory stretched from the district known as Oxmanstown down along the river Liffey until it met the sea. It also owned large estates in other parts of Ireland...
) - 1490 Thomas Cusacke
- 1494 Thomas Bowring
- 1496 John Topcliffe, from the Exchequer
- 1521 Patrick Bermingham
- 1532 Sir Bartholomew DillonBartholomew DillonSir Bartholomew Dillon was a leading Irish judge of the sixteenth century who held the offices of Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer and Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland....
, knt; 2nd justice, from the Exchequer - 1534 Patrick FinglasPatrick FinglasPatrick Finglas , was an Irish judge.Finglas was appointed Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer by Henry VIII in 1520, and afterwards, by patent dated at Westminster 8 May 1533, he was constituted Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland in the place of Sir Bartholomew Dillon...
, from the Exchequer - 1546 Sir Gerald Aylmer, from the Exchequer
- 1559 John Plunket
- 1562 John Plunket, by a new patent
- 1583 James Dowdall, 2nd justice
- 1586 Robert Gardiner, sergeant-at-law in England
- 1604 Sir James LeyJames Ley, 1st Earl of MarlboroughJames Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland and then in England; he was an English Member of Parliament and was Lord High Treasurer from 1624 to 1628. On 31 December 1624, James I created him Baron Ley, of Ley in the County of Devon, and on 5 February...
, afterwards Earl of Marlborough: resigned - 1608 Sir Humphrey WinchHumphrey WinchSir Humphrey Winch was a judge who had a distinguished career in Ireland and England, but whose reputation was seriously damaged by the Leicester witch trials of 1616.- Family :He was born in Bedfordshire, second son of John Winch of Northhill...
, knt, chief baron; from the exchequer; made a justice of the common pleas of England - 1612 Sir John DenhamJohn DenhamJohn Denham may refer to:* John Denham , British Member of Parliament for Southampton Itchen* John Denham , English poet* John 'Abs' Denham is a fictional nurse in the UK television drama Casualty...
, knt; chief baron, from the Exchequer - 1617 Sir William Jones, knt; sergeant-at-law
- 1619 Sir George Shurley, or Shirley, knt; serjeant-at-law
- 1655 Richard PepysRichard PepysSir Richard Pepys was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1640 and was Lord Chief Justice of Ireland. He was a cousin of the father of Samuel Pepys the diarist....
, under the usurpation - 1658 John Santhey, Jan 19 pro tem on Pepys' death
- 1659 William Basill, attorney general; Jan 24
- 1660 Sir James BarryJames Barry, 1st Baron Barry of SantryJames Barry, 1st Baron Barry of Santry PC was an Irish lawyer.-Early life:Barry was the son of Richard Barry and Anne Cusack. His father and grandfather were wealthy merchants of Dublin, his grandfather having been sheriff, and his father mayor and representative in parliament of that city...
, knt; afterwards Lord Santry - 1673 Sir John Povey, knt; from the Exchequer
- 1679 Sir Robert BoothRobert Booth (judge)Sir Robert Booth was an English born judge who had a successful career as a judge in Ireland, holding the offices of Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas and Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland.- Early life :...
, knt; died the next year - 1680 Sir William Davys, knt; prime serjeant
- 1687 Thomas NugentThomas Nugent (chief justice of Ireland)Thomas Nugent was an Irish Roman Catholic barrister who became Lord Chief Justice of Ireland under James II of Great Britain, and held a 1689 title as Baron of Riverston .-Life:...
; removed - 1690 Sir Richard Reynell, 1st BaronetSir Richard Reynell, 1st BaronetSir Richard Reynell, 1st Baronet , was an English-born judge who had a distinguished career in Ireland, becoming Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland.- Background and early career :...
; dismissed. - 1695 Sir Richard PyneRichard Pyne- Background :He was born in County Cork, fourth son of Nicholas Pyne of Monageely. He matriculated from Queen's College, Oxford in 1662, was called to the English Bar in 1669 and the Irish Bar in 1674...
, chief justice of the common pleas - 1709 Alan BrodrickAlan BrodrickAlan Brodrick may refer to:* Alan Brodrick, 1st Viscount Midleton * Alan Brodrick, 2nd Viscount Midleton * Alan Brodrick, 12th Viscount Midleton...
; removed - 1711 Sir Richard Cox, knt and bart; removed
- 1714 William WhitshedWilliam WhitshedWilliam Whitshed was an Irish politician and Solicitor-General. He became the Member of Parliament for Wicklow County in 1703, and was appointed as Solicitor-General in 1709.-References:...
; removed to the common pleas - 1727 John RogersonJohn Rogerson (1676–1741)John Rogerson was an Irish politician lawyer and judge who became Solicitor-General Attorney-General for Ireland and Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland. He was Member of Parliament for Granard and Dublin City. He was appointed as Solicitor-General in 1714...
, attorney generalAttorney-General for IrelandThe Attorney-General for Ireland was an Irish and then United Kingdom government office. The holder was senior to the Solicitor-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish legal matters... - 1741 Thomas MarlayThomas MarlayThomas Marlay was an Irish judge, remembered now as the builder of Celbridge Abbey and as the grandfather of the statesman Henry Grattan....
; from the Exchequer; resigned - 1751 St George CaulfeildSt George CaulfeildSt George Caulfeild was an Irish lawyer.He sat in the Irish House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Tulsk between 1727 and 1751...
, attorney general; resigned - 1760 Warden FloodWarden FloodWarden Flood was an Irish judge. He was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland in 1741, Attorney-General for Ireland in 1751, and in 1760 was appointed chief justice of the King's Bench...
, attorney general - 1764 John GoreJohn Gore, 1st Baron AnnalyJohn Gore, 1st Baron Annaly PC was an Irish politician and peer.He was the son of George Gore, in turn son of Sir Arthur Gore, 1st Baronet, and his wife Bridget Sankey, younger daughter of John Sankey. Gore was called to the Bar by King's Inns and worked as barrister-at-law...
, later Lord Annaly, solicitor generalSolicitor-General for IrelandThe Solicitor-General for Ireland was the holder of an Irish and then United Kingdom government office. The holder was a deputy to the Attorney-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish legal matters. At least one holder of the office, Patrick Barnewall played a significant role in...
; Aug 24 - 1784 John ScottJohn Scott, 1st Earl of ClonmellJohn Scott, 1st Earl of Clonmell PC KC SL , known as The Lord Earlsfort between 1784 and 1789 and as The Viscount Clonmell between 1789 and 1793, was an Irish barrister and judge...
, created Lord Earlsfort, afterwards Viscount and Earl of ClonmellEarl of ClonmellEarl of Clonmell, in the County of Tipperary, was a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1793 for John Scott, 1st Viscount Clonmell, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland. He had already been created Baron Earlsfort, of Lisson-Earl in the County of Tipperary, in 1784, and...
; Apr 29 - 1798 Arthur Wolfe, Lord KilwardenArthur Wolfe, 1st Viscount KilwardenArthur Wolfe, 1st Viscount Kilwarden KC was an Irish peer, politician and judge.Wolfe was born at , near Naas, being the fifth son of John Wolfe and his wife Mary Philpot. Wolfe was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and was called to the Irish Bar in 1766...
; June 13; murdered 23 July 1803 - 1803 William Downes, afterward 1st Baron Downes; Sept 12
- 1822 Charles Kendal BusheCharles Kendal BusheCharles Kendal Bushe , was an Irish lawyer and judge. Known as "silver-tongued Bushe", he was Solicitor-General for Ireland from 1805 to 1822 and Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland from 1822 to 1841....
(solicitor general from 1805), Feb 14 - 1841 Edward PennefatherEdward PennefatherEdward Pennefather PC, KC was an Irish judge.Pennefather was born in Tipperary, the second son of William Pennefather and his wife Ellen Moore. He went to school in Clonmel and graduated from the University of Dublin. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1795 and was King's Counsel by 1816...
(solicitor general) Nov 10 - 1846 Francis BlackburneFrancis BlackburneFrancis Blackburne PC KS was an Irish judge and eventually became Lord Chancellor of Ireland.-Background:...
(master of the rolls) Jan 21 - 1852 Thomas Langlois LefroyThomas Langlois LefroyThomas Langlois Lefroy was an Irish-Huguenot politician and judge. He served as an MP for the constituency of Dublin University 1830–1841, Privy Councillor of Ireland 1835–1869 and Lord Chief Justice of Ireland 1852–1866....
- 1866 James WhitesideJames WhitesideJames Whiteside was an Irish politician and judge.-Background and education:Whiteside was the son of William Whiteside, a clergyman of the Church of Ireland, and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, being called to the Irish bar in 1830.-Legal and judicial career:Whiteside very rapidly...
- 1877 George Augustus Chichester MayGeorge Augustus Chichester MayGeorge Augustus Chichester May PC, QC was an Irish judge.May was born in Belfast, the son of the Reverend Edward May and Elizabeth Sinclair. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and Magdalene College, Cambridge , where he graduated B.A. as 36th Wrangler and 3rd Classic in 1836, and became a fellow...
- 1887 Michael MorrisMichael Morris, 1st Baron KillaninMichael Morris, 1st Baron Killanin PC, QC , known as Sir Michael Morris, Bt, from 1885 to 1889 and as The Lord Morris between 1889 and 1900, was an Irish lawyer and judge...
, Chief Justice of Ireland, Lord of Appeal in OrdinaryLord of Appeal in OrdinaryLords of Appeal in Ordinary, commonly known as Law Lords, were appointed under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 to the House of Lords of the United Kingdom in order to exercise its judicial functions, which included acting as the highest court of appeal for most domestic matters...
(1889) - 1889 Peter O'BrienPeter O'Brien, 1st Baron O'BrienPeter O'Brien, 1st Baron O'Brien, PC, QC , known as Sir Peter O'Brien, Bt, between 1891 and 1900, was an Irish lawyer and judge...
- 1913 Richard Robert CherryRichard Robert CherryRichard Robert Cherry PC, QC was an Irish politician and judge. He was Attorney-General for Ireland, a judge of the Irish Court of Appeal and Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland 1913-1916. He was appointed Attorney-General in 1905. He was elected Member of Parliament for Liverpool...
- 1916 James Henry Mussen CampbellJames Campbell, 1st Baron GlenavyJames Henry Mussen Campbell, 1st Baron Glenavy PC was an Irish lawyer, politician in the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and later in the Oireachtas of the Irish Free State...
- 1918 Thomas MolonyThomas MolonySir Thomas Molony, 1st Baronet PC, QC was the last Lord Chief Justice of Ireland. He was also the only Judge to hold the position of Lord Chief Justice of Southern Ireland although he did not hold that position under that title....
Source
- List from Liber Munerum Publicorum Hiberniae, by Rowley Lascelles, copied in Haydn's Book of Dignities
- Names from 1852 onwardsfrom The Oxford Companion to Law, ed David M. Walker, 1980