[ad_1]
Several higher judges wrote to the Government to express their interest in the Supreme Court vacancy filled by Séamus Woulfe, but the Cabinet was not informed of his applications before he was selected in July.
The Irish Times understands that at least three judges had written to the Government requesting a promotion to the Supreme Court.
A spokeswoman for Justice Minister Helen McEntee confirmed that she was considering expressions of interest from sitting judges and other judges eligible for the position, before recommending Woulfe to the cabinet on July 15. Mr. Woulfe had served as attorney general in the previous government until he left office on June 27.
It is understood that Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the ministers at Fianna Fáil were told that the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board (JAAB) had recommended only one name, but were not told that other judges had expressed interest in the position.
They were also not told that judges do not apply for a position through the JAAB, although this has been the practice for some years.
The Taoiseach spokeswoman did not respond to a series of questions sent by The Irish Times on Thursday.
A spokesman for Green Party leader Eamon Ryan confirmed that he was not informed of the request from other judges during an informal discussion with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste about the appointment.
Mr. Ryan said he was “happy to recommend to my Cabinet colleagues the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board’s proposal that he take on that role, which was then agreed in Cabinet.”
‘Confidential’ discussions
When asked whether the Minister of Justice had specifically informed the Taoiseach that sitting judges had expressed interest in the position, Ms. McEntee’s spokesperson said that “discussions in Cabinet, with ministerial colleagues and with the Attorney General they are confidential ”.
Mr. Martin said after the July 15 cabinet meeting that the JAAB had recommended Mr. Woulfe, but did not address requests from other judges. Mr. Martin said that the appointment “was completely independent of the Government formation talks, it had nothing to do with the Government formation talks at all.”
Acting judges seeking to transfer to higher courts bypass the JAAB, the mechanism used by attorneys and solicitors to apply for judicial office and which is chaired by Chief Justice Frank Clarke.
Judge Woulfe was selected to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Mary Finlay Geoghegan the previous summer. He told Denham’s review about his attendance at the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner that he ran for JAAB after the February general election.
Judge Finlay Geoghegan had retired in June 2019, but the process to replace her did not begin until February 4 of this year, four days before the general election, when the Chief Justice wrote to then-Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, requesting that the vacancy be filled. .
‘Standard practice’
A spokesperson for Ms. McEntee said: “As is customary practice with judicial appointments, the Minister of Justice, having considered the expressions of interest of serving members of the judiciary; other judges eligible for the position; and JAAB’s recommendation, then recommended a name to Cabinet in accordance with JAAB’s recommendation.
“The Minister presented a memorandum for the Government’s consideration to the Cabinet on July 15 last. The Government decided to nominate Séamus Woulfe for the President to appoint him to the Supreme Court. “
Governments have wide discretion in judicial selection and are free to nominate attorneys who are not recommended by the JAAB or who do not present a formal expression of interest.
[ad_2]