Brian McGovern (judge) facts for kids

Brian J. McGovern is a retired Irish judge. He served as a judge in two important courts. First, he was a Judge of the High Court from 2007 to 2010. Later, he became a Judge of the Court of Appeal from June 2018 to March 2020.

Brian McGovern's Early Life and Education

Brian McGovern went to Castleknock College for his schooling. After that, he studied law at University College Dublin. He earned a special law degree called a BCL in 1971. He then continued his legal studies at King's Inns. In 1972, he officially became a barrister. A barrister is a lawyer who argues cases in court.

Becoming a Senior Counsel

In 1991, Brian McGovern became a senior counsel. This is a special title for experienced barristers. During his time as a lawyer, he worked on many different types of cases. These included both criminal cases and civil cases. Criminal cases involve breaking the law, while civil cases are about disagreements between people or groups. He also led the Irish Maritime Law Association. This group focuses on laws related to the sea and shipping.

Brian McGovern's Career as a Judge

Brian McGovern had a long and important career as a judge. He served in both the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Serving in the High Court

He was first appointed to the High Court in 2006. This court handles many serious and important legal cases. While in the High Court, he was the special judge for arbitration cases in Ireland. Arbitration is a way to solve disagreements outside of court, using a neutral person to make a decision. He also led the Commercial Court. This part of the High Court deals with big business disputes. He heard cases involving well-known people like Rory McIlroy and Gay Byrne.

Moving to the Court of Appeal

In June 2018, Judge McGovern was appointed to the Court of Appeal. This court hears appeals from decisions made in lower courts. This means they review cases to see if the law was applied correctly. He retired from his role as a judge in March 2020.

Continuing Work: CervicalCheck Tribunal

Even after retiring, Judge McGovern continued to serve. He became a member of a special group called the CervicalCheck Tribunal. This group was set up to look into important health matters. He worked alongside two other judges, Ann Power and Tony O'Connor, on this important task.