Council
The Honorable Society of King’s Inns (King’s Inns) activities are co–ordinated by Council, the Society’s governing body. It is made up of the Chief Justice (ex officio), the President of the Court of Appeal (ex officio) and the President of the High Court (ex officio), a judge of the Circuit Court, the Attorney General (ex officio), Chairman and Treasurer of the Bar Council of Ireland (ex officio), and a number of other benchers, judges, practising and non–practising barristers elected by the subscribing members of King’s Inns.
A newly formed Council for a succeeding year elect six Committees who are made up of people from Council is to oversee the management of King’s Inns in delivering the strategy and policy, and administering the Society’s day–to–day business operations.
Objectives
Council, the King’s Inns CEO and Under Treasurer, has staff and contractors which services the Society’s Council and Committees and also administers the objectives of King’s Inns.
King’s Inns is the oldest institution of legal education in Ireland. Its main objectives are:
- the promotion and advancement of learning in the law;
- the education and training of students and members of the King’s Inns;
- the protection and furtherance of the reputation and standing of the degree of Barrister–at–Law;
- the preservation of the heritage that is comprised in the King’s Inns, its buildings, library, furnishings and environs; and
- to ensure the fitness of persons to practice as or to hold themselves out as barristers prior to and, subject to Part 6 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, after their call to the Bar.
Elections
Elections shall be held in each year to fill vacancies caused by the expiry of the term of office of members of Council. Elections will take place during the Michaelmas Term. Voting and meeting provisions are set our in the General Rules of the Society.
Judicial Benchers (10 members)
Name
Position
Term Expires
The Hon. Mr Justice Clarke
Chief Justice
ex officio
The Hon. Mr Justice Birmingham
President, Court of Appeal
ex officio
The Hon. Ms Justice Irvine
President, High Court
ex officio
The Hon. Mr Justice Keane
.
31/12/2020
The Hon. Ms Justice Pilkington
.
31/12/2020
The Hon. Mr Justice Simons
.
31/12/2020
The Hon. Mr Justice Edwards
.
31/12/2021
The Hon. Mr Justice Barniville
.
31/12/2021
The Hon. Ms Justice Baker
.
31/12/2021
The Hon. Ms Justice Burns
.
31/12/2021
Professional Body Panel (10 members)
Name
Position
Term Expires
Mr Micheál P O’Higgins SC
Chair, Bar Council
ex officio
Mr Seán Ó hUallacháin
Treasurer, Bar Council
ex officio
Mr Tim O’Leary SC
Ms Sara Phelan SC
Ms Maura McNally SC
Mr Joseph O’Sullivan
Mr Dara Hayes
Mr Darren Lehane
Ms Mema Byrne
Ms Rachel Baldwin
Bar Benchers Panel (10 members)
Name
Position
Term Expires
Mr Hugh O’Neill SC
.
31/12/2020
Mr James O’Reilly SC
.
31/12/2020
Mr Hugh Mohan SC
.
31/12/2020
Mr Denis McCullough SC
.
31/12/2020
Ms Jacqueline O’Brien SC
.
31/12/2020
Mr John Rogers SC
.
31/12/2021
Mr Michael McDowell SC
.
31/12/2021
Mr Fergal Foley
.
31/12/2021
Mr Michael Collins SC
.
31/12/2021
Mr Tom Mallon
.
31/12/2021
Practicing Bar Panel (10 members)
Name
Position
Term Expires
Mr Tadgh Dorgan
.
31/12/2020
Mr Arran Dowling-Hussey
.
31/12/2020
Mr George Maguire
.
31/12/2020
Ms Georgina Farren
.
31/12/2020
Mr Michael McCormack
.
31/12/2020
Ms Susan Lennox
.
31/12/2021
Ms Elizabeth Donovan
.
31/12/2021
Mr Gerard N Murphy
.
31/12/2021
Ms Sally O’Neill
.
31/12/2021
Mr Aillil O’Reilly
.
31/12/2021
Circuit Court Judge
Name
Position
Term Expires
Her Hon. Judge Jacqueline Linnane
Circuit Court Judge
31/12/2021
Attorney General
Name
Position
Term Expires
Mr Paul Gallagher SC
AG
ex officio
Non–Practising Barristers
Name
Position
Term Expires
Mr Brian Byrne
.
31/12/2020
Mr John Holohan
.
31/12/2021