Michael White (judge) facts for kids

Michael White (born 1953) is a retired Irish judge. He served as a judge in two important courts in Ireland. First, he was a Judge of the Circuit Court from 1996 to 2011. After that, he became a Judge of 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 was a solicitor, which is a type of lawyer. Michael went to St Patrick's Boys' National School and Carndonagh Boys Secondary School. He also studied at Gormanston College. In 1973, he earned a law degree from University College Dublin. During his time at university, he was involved in student activities and joined a political group called the Workers' Party.

Becoming a Lawyer

In 1975, Michael White became a qualified solicitor. A solicitor is a lawyer who gives legal advice and represents people in lower courts. He tried to become a politician several times, running in three general elections and one special election between 1981 and 1983. These elections were for the Dublin Central area.

In 1976, he started a law firm with two other lawyers. Later, in 1987, he opened his own law practice. He became very good at helping people with family law, which deals with things like divorce and child custody. He also specialized in labour law, which covers rules about jobs and workers' rights.

His Time as a Judge

Michael White became a judge in 1996 when he was appointed to the Circuit Court. This court handles many different types of cases, including criminal and civil matters. He was one of the first solicitors ever to become a judge in Ireland.

In 2011, he was appointed to the High Court. This is a higher court that deals with more serious cases and can review decisions made by lower courts. As a High Court judge, he was involved in important projects. For example, he was the head of the Hammond Lane Project Board. This group is working to build a new courthouse in Dublin.

He also served as the judge in charge of the Central Criminal Court. This part of the High Court handles very serious criminal cases. In 2018, he spoke publicly about ways to improve how family law cases were handled in Irish courts. He 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.