Ann Power facts for kids

Ann Power (born 23 November 1962) is an important Irish judge. She has been a Judge of the Court of Appeal since November 2019. Before this, she was a top judge at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor's Office from 2017 to 2019. She also served as a Judge of the European Court of Human Rights from 2008 to 2014.

Early Life and Education

Ann Power was born in Dublin, Ireland, on November 23, 1962. She loved learning from a young age. From 1980 to 1984, she studied English and Philosophy at the Mater Dei Institute of Education in Dublin. She then earned a Master's degree in Education from Trinity College Dublin in 1987. She got top grades in both her degrees.

In 1986, Ann started working as an English teacher in a secondary school. The next year, she also began lecturing in Philosophy. While teaching and lecturing, she decided to study law. From 1989 to 1993, she trained to become a barrister at the King's Inns. Barristers are lawyers who represent people in court. She was very good at her law studies, even winning a special scholarship for being first in her final exams. Later, she also studied for a DPhil (a high-level research degree) in law at University College, Oxford in 2012.

Career as a Lawyer and Judge

Ann Power became a barrister in 1993. She worked as a lawyer in Ireland's highest courts. She also continued to lecture in Philosophy. She became known for her work in several areas of law. These included cases about the country's rules (Constitutional law), public services (Public law), and healthcare (Medical law). She also worked on cases for people seeking to live in Ireland (Immigration and Asylum law).

From 1998 to 2003, she taught law at King's Inns. In 2006, she was given the special title of Senior Counsel. This means she was recognized as a very experienced and skilled lawyer.

Serving in Europe

In 2008, Ann Power was chosen to be a judge at the European Court of Human Rights. This court helps make sure that countries in Europe protect people's basic rights. She was elected by many votes and served on the court until 2014.

Sometimes, judges cannot hear a case if there's a chance they might not be fair. This could happen if a family member is involved, or if they worked on the case before. Ann Power had to step away from one important hearing for this reason. Another judge took her place.

She left the European Court of Human Rights in October 2014. After she left, a letter was sent to the Irish leader, Taoiseach Enda Kenny. The letter suggested that judges who served on the European Court of Human Rights should be considered for roles in Irish courts.

Returning to Ireland

After her time in Europe, Ann Power returned to work as a barrister in Dublin and London. From 2017 to 2019, she served as a top judge for the Specialist Chamber of the Constitutional Court. This court was part of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor's Office.

Court of Appeal

In November 2019, Ann Power was appointed as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. This is a very important court in Ireland. She was one of six new judges appointed after new laws allowed the court to have more judges.

In July 2020, she was chosen to lead a special group of three judges. This group was set up to look into a serious health issue in Ireland called the CervicalCheck cancer scandal. She works with Judge Tony O'Connor and retired judge Brian McGovern on this important task.

Personal Life

Ann Power enjoys many hobbies outside of her legal work. She likes drama, singing, traveling, painting, and walking in the hills. She can speak several languages, including English, Irish, French, and Polish. From 1988 to 2000, she was a member of the Academic Council of All Hallows College. This was a Roman Catholic college in Dublin.