Charles O'Connor (judge) facts for kids

Charles Andrew O'Connor (born December 31, 1854 – died October 18, 1928) was an important Irish judge. He served as a judge on the Supreme Court from 1924 to 1925. He is remembered for his decisions in cases about habeas corpus. This is a legal right that protects people from being held in prison without a fair trial.

Charles O'Connor: A Judge Who Made a Difference

Early Life and Education

Charles Andrew O'Connor was born in Roscommon, Ireland, on December 31, 1854. He was the third son of a solicitor, who is a type of lawyer.

Charles went to St Stanislaus College for his early education. Later, he studied at Trinity College Dublin, a famous university. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1876. In 1878, he became a barrister, which is a lawyer who argues cases in court.

His Time as a Judge

Charles O'Connor became a very respected lawyer. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1894. This is a special title for experienced lawyers. He then held several important legal roles. These included Solicitor-General for Ireland and Attorney-General for Ireland.

In 1912, he became the Master of the Rolls in Ireland. This was a very high judicial position. He kept this role until 1922. That's when the Irish Free State was formed. This new state was independent from the United Kingdom.

The new Irish government decided to keep O'Connor as a judge. They believed he was fair and independent. He then served as a judge on the Supreme Court of the Irish Free State. He retired from this role in 1925.

Important Decisions

Judge O'Connor is best known for two major decisions. Both cases happened during a time of political unrest in Ireland. They involved the legal right of habeas corpus.

The Egan Case

One famous case was R. (Egan) v. Macready. During this time, martial law was in place. This meant the military had control. A man named Egan was sentenced to death by the military.

Judge O'Connor ruled that the military did not have the power to order the death penalty. He ordered Egan's release. When the military commander, Nevil Macready, refused, O'Connor did something very bold. He ordered Macready to be arrested for contempt of court. This means disobeying a judge's order. Egan was then released. This decision showed O'Connor's strong belief in justice.

The Childers Case

Another important case was Application of Childers. Erskine Childers was a leader on the Anti-Treaty side during the Irish Civil War. He was captured by government forces. He was then court-martialled, meaning he was tried by a military court. He was sentenced to death.

O'Connor refused to stop the execution. He ruled that the new Provisional Government had the power to set up military courts. These courts could impose the death penalty. He explained that during a state of war, civil courts might not have power over military actions. Childers was executed shortly after.

Family Life

In 1890, Charles O'Connor married Blanche Scully. He passed away in 1928.

His Character

People who knew Charles O'Connor respected him greatly. Maurice Healy, a writer, called him "the greatest gentleman at the Irish Bar." He was known as a popular and fair judge. O'Connor was humble about his own skills. He was also proud of his family history, belonging to the Clan O'Connor.