The Irish judiciary is now in a position to “authoritatively assert judicial independence and respect for the rule of law”, the Chief Justice, Frank Clarke, told the first full meeting of the Judicial Council on Friday. While respect for the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary has been broadly supported, it should not be assumed such a state of affairs will continue unless it is supported, he said. “We have seen that the rule of law and the independence of judges has come under threat in other jurisdictions,” he told the council, which comprises all the State’s 168 judges. In an address to the European Court of Human Rights last week, Mr Justice Clarke referenced the threat to judicial independence from the rise of populism. The judiciary has been seeking a Judicial Council for two decades.

Source: The Irish Times February 07, 2020 12:45 UTC