THE Minister for Justice has appointed the final three members to the newly established board which will advise her on "judicial appointments.
The chairwoman of the Irish Association of Victim Support, Ms Jennifer Guinness, the chairwoman of the Labour "Court, Ms Evelyn Owens, and the chairman of Equity Bank Ltd and Trading House Investment Company Ltd, Mr John McGilligan, were appointed, yesterday to the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board.
The board has been set up under the Courts and Court Officers Act, which provides for the appointment of three extra judges to the Supreme Court, three to the High Court, seven to the Circuit Court and five to the District Court. The appointments to the new board, represent a step towards the "filling of these new posts.
The other members provided for in the Act are the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Hamilton, the High Court President, Mr Justice Costello, the President of the Circuit Court, Mr Justice Spain, the President of the District Court, Judge Peter Smithwick, and the Attorney General, Mr Dermot Gleeson SC.
The Act also provides for the appointment to the board of a practising barrister and practising solicitor. Mr James Nugent SC, chairman of the Bar Council, and a solicitor, Mr Thomas Shaw, have been appointed to these positions.