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Bilateral Exchange of the Judiciaries of the United Kingdom and Ireland 19 – 21 June 2022

Bilateral Exchange of the Judiciaries of the United Kingdom and Ireland 19 – 21 June 2022

Earlier this month, members of the UK judiciary took part in an exchange with the Supreme Court of Ireland. This is part of a long–standing arrangement between the UK and Irish judiciaries to hold regular exchanges.

Official Photograph, UK and Irish Judiciaries
Official Photograph, UK and Irish Judiciaries, Courtroom 2 of The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, Monday 20 June 2022 © Kevin Leighton, UK Supreme Court
President of The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, The Rt Hon The Lord Reed of Allermuir & Chief Justice of Ireland, The Hon Mr Justice Donal O'Donnell
President of The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, The Rt Hon The Lord Reed of Allermuir & Chief Justice of Ireland, The Hon Mr Justice Donal O'Donnell, Monday 20 June 2022 © Kevin Leighton, UK Supreme Court

The UK delegation comprised:

  • The Rt Hon The Lord Reed of Allermuir, President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
  • The Rt Hon The Lord Burnett of Maldon, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
  • The Rt Hon Lord Carloway, Lord President of the Court of Session
  • The Rt Hon Dame Siobhan Keegan, Lady Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
  • The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls
  • The Rt Hon Lord Hodge, Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
  • The Rt Hon Lord Kitchin, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
  • The Rt Hon Lord Stephens of Creevyloughgare, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
  • The Rt Hon Lady Rose of Colmworth, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United

The Irish delegation comprised:

  • The Hon Mr Justice Donal O'Donnell, Chief Justice of Ireland
  • The Hon Mr Justice George Birmingham, President of the Court of Appeal of Ireland
  • The Hon Ms Justice Mary Irvine, President of the High Court of Ireland
  • The Hon Mr Justice John MacMenamin, Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland
  • The Hon Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne, Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland
  • The Hon Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley, Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland
  • The Hon Ms Justice Marie Baker, Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland
  • The Hon Mr Justice Gerard Hogan, Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland
  • The Hon Mr Justice Brian Murray, Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland

The first session, led by Lord Carloway, Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lord Kitchin and Ms Justice Marie Baker, concerned the use of technology in the courts. Justices discussed modernisation and the pandemic experience, sharing ways in which their respective courts responded, and have changed.

The second session, led by Lady Rose, Lord Stephens and Mr Justice Gerard Hogan, focused on human rights, constitutional boundaries and the separation of powers. The third session, led by Ms Justice Mary Irvine, Lord Hodge and Mr Justice Brian Murray, explored contemporary issues in the law of torts.

Following the day's discussions, the delegations attended receptions hosted by The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of London, and Ambassador Adrian O’Neill, Irish Ambassador to the UK, in honour of the exchange.

Lord Reed, UK Supreme Court President said of the visit, “It was a great honour to welcome the Chief Justice and his colleagues to London. The warmth of the engagement was remarkable. This valuable exchange ensured the close relationship of our two common law jurisdictions endures”.

Donal O’Donnell, Chief Justice of Ireland, said, “The importance of the issues discussed between the senior judiciary of both Ireland and the United Kingdom, the range of our discussions, the value of the insights exchanged, and the good relationships fostered and developed, all illustrate the considerable continuing benefit of these bilateral exchanges between common law jurisdictions with much shared history and close and valued connections”.