Council
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), Chair and Treasurer of The Bar 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.
King’s Inns Objectives
Council and 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 an independent educational institution, renowned for professional legal education and training. 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 practise 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 Michaelmas Term each year. Voting and meeting provisions are set our in the General Rules of the Society.
- Chair of Council: Hugh I Mohan SC
- Honorary Treasurer: Sara Moorhead SC
- Honorary Secretary: Elizabeth Donovan BL
Judicial Benchers (10 members)
Name
Position
Term Expires
The Hon. Mr Justice Donal O’Donnell
Chief Justice
ex officio
The Hon. Mr Justice George Birmingham
President, Court of Appeal
ex officio
The Hon. Mr Justice David Barniville
President, High Court
ex officio
The Hon. Mr Justice John Edwards
.
31/12/2023
The Hon. Ms Justice Tara Burns
.
31/12/2023
The Hon. Ms Justice Marie Baker
.
31/12/2023
The Hon. Mr Justice Paul Burns
.
31/12/2023
The Hon. Ms Justice Nuala Butler
.
31/12/2024
The Hon. Mr Justice David Keane
.
31/12/2024
The Hon. Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington
.
31/12/2024
Professional Body Panel (10 members)
Name
Position
Term Expires
Sara Phelan SC
Chair, The Bar of Ireland
ex officio
Seámus Clarke SC
Treasurer, The Bar of Ireland
ex officio
Denise Brett SC
Vice-Chair, The Bar of Ireland
ex officio
Mema Byrne BL
Seán Ó hUallacháin SC
Murray Johnson SC
Aoife Farrelly BL
Lewis Mooney BL
Cian Kelly BL
Darren Lehane SC
Bar Benchers Panel (10 members)
Name
Position
Term Expires
John Rogers SC
.
31/12/2023
David Nolan SC
.
31/12/2023
Fergal Foley BL
.
31/12/2023
Finbarr Fox SC
.
31/12/2023
Jacqueline O'Brien SC
.
31/12/2023
James O'Reilly SC
.
31/12/2024
Hugh I Mohan SC
.
31/12/2024
Sara Moorhead SC
.
31/12/2024
Shane Murphy SC
.
31/12/2024
Paul McGarry SC
.
31/12/2024
Practising Bar Panel (10 members)
Name
Position
Term Expires
Elizabeth Donovan BL
.
31/12/2023
Gerard N Murphy BL
.
31/12/2023
Glen Gibbons BL
.
31/12/2023
Dermot Sheehan BL
.
31/12/2023
Sally O’Neill BL
.
31/12/2023
George Maguire BL
.
31/12/2024
Kate Ahern BL
.
31/12/2024
Mark O'Riodan BL
.
31/12/2024
Ian Fitzharris BL
.
31/12/2024
Robert O'Reilly BL
.
31/12/2024
Non–Practising Barristers
Name
Position
Term Expires
James Mulcahy BL
.
31/12/2023
Colum Walsh BL
.
31/12/2024
Circuit Court Judge
Name
Position
Term Expires
Her Hon. Judge Alice Doyle
Circuit Court Judge
31/12/2023
Attorney General
Name
Position
Term Expires
Rossa Fanning SC
AG
ex officio