Fidelma Macken facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fidelma Macken
SC
|
|
|---|---|
| Judge of the Supreme Court | |
| In office 20 May 2005 – 6 June 2012 |
|
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary McAleese |
| Judge of the High Court | |
| In office 19 October 2004 – 20 May 2005 |
|
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary McAleese |
| In office 30 July 1998 – 5 October 1999 |
|
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Mary McAleese |
| Judge of the European Court of Justice | |
| In office 5 October 1999 – 22 September 2004 |
|
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | European Council |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Fidelma O'Kelly
28 February 1942 Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Strictly independent |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | |
Fidelma Macken is a respected retired judge from Ireland. She held some of the most important legal jobs in her country and in Europe. A judge is a person who leads a court and makes final decisions about legal cases.
Macken served on Ireland's High Court and Supreme Court. She also made history as the first woman to be appointed as a judge to the European Court of Justice. This court handles legal matters for the entire European Union.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Fidelma Macken was born Fidelma O'Kelly in Dublin, Ireland, on February 28, 1942. For her higher education, she attended two famous schools: Trinity College Dublin and King's Inns. King's Inns is the institution in Ireland where students train to become barristers, a type of lawyer.
Career as a Lawyer
In 1972, Macken officially became a barrister. Barristers are lawyers who specialize in representing people in court. For several years, she worked as a legal adviser for patents and trademarks, which involves protecting new inventions and brand names.
Because of her skill and experience, she was given the title of Senior Counsel in 1995. This is a special honor for top barristers in Ireland. As a lawyer, she often worked on complex cases related to medicine.
A Judge in Ireland and Europe
Fidelma Macken's work as a lawyer led to her being appointed as a judge. She served on three very important courts during her career.
The High Court of Ireland
The High Court is one of Ireland's most important courts. It deals with major civil and criminal cases. Macken was appointed as a judge to this court twice. Her first term was from 1998 to 1999. She returned to the High Court for a second term from 2004 to 2005.
The European Court of Justice
In 1999, Macken was appointed as a judge to the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The ECJ is the highest court of the European Union. It makes sure that EU law is followed in the same way across all member countries.
Her appointment was a historic moment, as she became the first woman ever to serve as a judge on this powerful court. She served at the ECJ until 2004.
The Supreme Court of Ireland
In 2005, Fidelma Macken was promoted to the Supreme Court. This is the highest court in the entire Irish legal system. Its decisions are final and can only be changed by new laws or a referendum.
Serving on the Supreme Court is one of the greatest honors for any judge in Ireland. She served as a Supreme Court judge until she retired in 2012.
Life After Retirement
After retiring as a judge, Fidelma Macken did not stop working in the legal field. In 2013, she returned to practicing law at a set of offices for barristers called Brick Court Chambers. She also taught law at her old university, Trinity College Dublin.
See also
