Kevin Dixon (attorney general) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kevin Dixon
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|---|---|
| Judge of the High Court | |
| In office 1 May 1946 – 7 June 1959 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Seán T. O'Kelly |
| 8th Attorney General of Ireland | |
| In office 10 October 1942 – 30 April 1946 |
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| Taoiseach | Éamon de Valera |
| Preceded by | Kevin Haugh |
| Succeeded by | Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 October 1902 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 7 June 1959 (aged 56) Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Fianna Fáil |
| Spouse | Mary McEoin (m. 1934; d. 1959) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Belvedere College |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
Kevin Dixon (born October 22, 1902 – died June 7, 1959) was an important Irish lawyer and judge. He served as a judge in the High Court from 1946 to 1959. Before that, he was the Attorney General of Ireland from 1942 to 1946.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kevin Dixon was born in Dublin, Ireland. He went to school at Belvedere College. After that, he studied at University College Dublin. These schools helped him prepare for a career in law.
Becoming a Lawyer
In 1926, Kevin Dixon became a barrister. This means he was a lawyer who could argue cases in court. He worked hard and became a Senior Counsel in 1940. A Senior Counsel is a very experienced and respected lawyer.
Attorney General of Ireland
From 1942 to 1946, Kevin Dixon held a very important job. He was the Attorney General of Ireland. The Attorney General is the chief legal advisor to the government. They help make sure laws are followed correctly.
High Court Judge
After being Attorney General, Kevin Dixon was appointed a judge. He became a judge of the High Court in 1946. He served in this role until he passed away in 1959. The High Court deals with many important legal cases.
His Work as a Judge
Kevin Dixon was known as a very skilled judge. People thought he was the best at handling certain types of cases. These included cases about trade unions (groups that protect workers' rights) and charities. Even though legal cases can be serious, he sometimes showed a good sense of humor in his decisions.
Important Case: Judges' Salaries
One of his most famous cases was called O'Byrne v Minister for Finance. This case was about whether judges had to pay income tax on their salaries. The Irish Constitution said that a judge's salary should not be reduced. Some people thought this meant judges did not have to pay tax.
Judge Dixon ruled that judges did have to pay income tax. He said that paying tax was not the same as reducing their salary. This decision was later supported by the Supreme Court of Ireland. Many people believed that if he had lived longer, he would have become a judge on the Supreme Court.
