Richard Johnson (judge)
Encyclopedia
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
.
He was also under the terms of the Constitution of Ireland
by virtue of that office an ex-officio member of the Supreme Court. In the absence of the Chief Justice
, he acted as a member of the Presidential Commission.
Johnson was born in Tralee, County Kerry
and studied law at University College Dublin
(UCD). He qualified as a barrister
at the King's Inns
in 1960. He practised on the South Western Circuit (Kerry, Limerick and Clare) until he became Senior Counsel in 1977. As a Senior Counsel he practised on the Munster Circuit and in Dublin until 1987. He was appointed to the High Court in 1987. His father was a district court judge for a number of years and his son and daughter are barristers. The Government nominated Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns
on 7 October 2009.
After his retirement as President, he gave an interview to the media in which he suggested the legislature should revisit the issue of whether the death penalty should be allowed as punishment for particularly serious crimes, such as murder committed in the course of armed robbery. Limerick Mayor Kevin Kiely
supported the proposal as a response to the continuing increase in murders in Ireland.
High Court (Republic of Ireland)
The High Court of Ireland is a court which deals at first instance with the most serious and important civil and criminal cases. When sitting as a criminal court it is called the Central Criminal Court and there is a jury. It also acts as a court of appeal for civil cases in the Circuit Court...
from November 2006 until October 2009. He was the second most senior Irish judge after the Chief Justice 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...
.
He was also under the terms of the Constitution of Ireland
Constitution of Ireland
The Constitution of Ireland is the fundamental law of the Irish state. The constitution falls broadly within the liberal democratic tradition. It establishes an independent state based on a system of representative democracy and guarantees certain fundamental rights, along with a popularly elected...
by virtue of that office an ex-officio member of the Supreme Court. In the absence of the 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....
, he acted as a member of the Presidential Commission.
Johnson was born in Tralee, County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
and studied law at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
(UCD). He qualified as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
at the King's Inns
King's Inns
The Honorable Society of King's Inns , is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of Ireland...
in 1960. He practised on the South Western Circuit (Kerry, Limerick and Clare) until he became Senior Counsel in 1977. As a Senior Counsel he practised on the Munster Circuit and in Dublin until 1987. He was appointed to the High Court in 1987. His father was a district court judge for a number of years and his son and daughter are barristers. The Government nominated Mr Justice 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...
on 7 October 2009.
After his retirement as President, he gave an interview to the media in which he suggested the legislature should revisit the issue of whether the death penalty should be allowed as punishment for particularly serious crimes, such as murder committed in the course of armed robbery. Limerick Mayor Kevin Kiely
Kevin Kiely
Kevin Kiely is an Irish politician and former Mayor of Limerick from 2009–10. He was made a Peace Commissioner in 1983 by the then Fine Gael Minister for Justice, Michael Noonan. He is a member of Fine Gael. He was first elected to Limerick City Council in 1985. He was re-elected to the council in...
supported the proposal as a response to the continuing increase in murders in Ireland.