Isobel Kennedy facts for kids

Isobel Kennedy is an important Irish judge. She works in the Court of Appeal. This is a very high court in Ireland. Before this, she was a judge in the High Court. She also led a special group called the Referendum Commission.

Who is Isobel Kennedy?

Isobel Kennedy comes from Limerick, a city in Ireland. She studied law at University College Cork. In 1986, she earned her law degree. After that, she became a barrister in 1988.

What is a Barrister?

A barrister is a type of lawyer. They represent people in court. Isobel Kennedy became a senior counsel in 2003. This means she was a very experienced barrister. She worked on cases involving criminal law and constitutional law.

Becoming a Judge

In February 2015, Isobel Kennedy became a judge. She was appointed to the High Court. The High Court deals with serious legal cases. She served as a judge there until 2018. During this time, she also worked in the Special Criminal Court.

Leading the Referendum Commission

Isobel Kennedy was chosen to lead the Referendum Commission twice. This group helps people understand referendums. A referendum is when citizens vote on a new law or change to the Constitution.

One time, she helped with a vote about removing blasphemy from the Constitution. She suggested that Ireland should have a permanent group for elections. This would replace the temporary Referendum Commission.

Judge in the Court of Appeal

In November 2018, Isobel Kennedy became a judge in the Court of Appeal. This court hears appeals from lower courts. It is a very important role.

Her appointment was special. At the same time, another woman, Caroline Costello, also became a judge there. This made the Court of Appeal have an equal number of male and female judges for the first time.

Current Role

Today, Isobel Kennedy is still a judge in the Court of Appeal. She also helps advise the School of Law at the University of Limerick.