Michael White (judge) facts for kids

Michael White is a retired Irish judge. He was born in 1953. He served as a judge in two important courts in Ireland. From 1996 to 2011, he was a judge in the Circuit Court. After that, he became a judge in the High Court from 2011 until he retired in 2021.

Early Life and Education

Michael White was born in 1953 in a town called Carndonagh in County Donegal, Ireland. His father, Michael, was a solicitor, which is a type of lawyer.

Michael White went to school in Carndonagh. He also attended Gormanston College. Later, he studied law at University College Dublin. He earned his law degree in 1973.

Starting a Legal Career

Michael White became a solicitor in 1975. This means he was qualified to give legal advice and represent people in court.

He started his own law firm in 1987. He became very good at two specific types of law. These were family law, which deals with family matters like divorce, and labour law, which is about rules for workers and employers.

Becoming a Judge

In 1996, Michael White was appointed as a judge to the Circuit Court. He was one of the first solicitors ever to become a judge in Ireland.

As a Circuit Court judge, he handled many different cases. He was involved in important trials. For example, he sentenced George Redmond after findings by the Flood Tribunal, which investigated certain matters. He also presided over a trial that later inspired a fictional novel and a film.

In October 2011, he was appointed to the High Court. This is a higher court in Ireland. He became the judge in charge of the Central Criminal Court. This court handles serious criminal cases.

Michael White also chaired the Hammond Lane Project Board. This project was about building a new courthouse in Dublin. In 2018, he openly shared his thoughts about how family law courts in Ireland were run.

In February 2021, he was chosen to be the first chairperson of the Parole Board. This board decides if prisoners can be released early. In June 2021, he also became the chairperson of a special investigation. This investigation looked into serious allegations against Bill Kenneally.

Michael White retired from his role as a High Court judge on October 1, 2021.

Personal Life

Michael White lives in Dublin. He married Maud McKee in 1982. Maud was a doctor from Portballintrae. They had four sons together. Sadly, Dr. McKee passed away in 2014.