Niamh Howlin, editor

ISBN: 9781801511377

Hardback

The Courts of Justice Act 1924 established the District Court, Circuit Court, High
Court and Supreme Court. This book brings together legal scholars, historians and
members of the judiciary, to reflect on the legacies of the 1924 Act. Making use
of a range of sources and methodologies, the authors analyse the establishment of
a new judiciary and some of the challenges facing the new legal order. This book
reflects on some of the innovations in the 1924 Act and it includes comparative
analysis of courts in other jurisdictions. It traces the position of the Irish language
in the courts and considers how both the symbolism and the realities of the new
courts were perceived in Irish society.

Contents include:

Tom Mohr (UCD), The Dáil Courts and opposition to the 1924
Act; Evan McGuigan (ind.), The courts in Dublin Castle; Mark Coen (UCD),
Symbolism in the new courts; Robert Marshall (ind.), The early appointments to
the superior and Circuit courts; Laura Cahillane (UL), Remuneration of judges
under the 1924 Act; Daire Hogan (ind.), The introduction of a retirement age for
judges; Bláthna Ruane (ind.), Establishing judicial independence; Niamh Howlin
(UCD), A District Court in action; Kevin Costello (UCD), The Circuit Court,
decentralization and its opponents, 1924 to 1934; Patricia Ryan (president of the
Circuit Court), The expanding role of the Circuit Court judge; David Barniville
(president of the High Court), The role of the president of the High Court; Gerard
Hogan (judge of the Supreme Court), The evolution of the Supreme Court; Úna Ní
Raifeartaigh (judge of the Court of Appeal) and Róisin Costello (TCD), The 1924
Act and the Irish language in the courtroom; Lynsey Black (MU) and Danielle
Jefferis (MU), Smuggling, the Border, and the courts; Brice Dickson (QUB),
Appeal routes in Northern Ireland; Hilary Biehler (TCD), Section 29 of the 1924
Act and the certification process; Donal Coffey (MU), The Courts of Justice Act in
comparative perspective.

Niamh Howlin is an associate professor at the Sutherland School of Law at UCD. She is the author and editor of several books on aspects of Irish legal history.