Peter Kelly (judge) facts for kids

Peter Thomas Kelly, born on June 17, 1950, is a well-known retired Irish judge. He held important roles in Ireland's legal system for many years. From 2015 to 2020, he was the President of the High Court. Before that, he served as a judge in the High Court and the Court of Appeal. His career shows a long dedication to justice in Ireland.

Peter Kelly's Journey in Law

Early Life and Education

Peter Kelly was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1950. He went to O'Connell School for his early education. After finishing school, he started working as a civil servant. He worked at the High Court Central Office, which is a part of the legal system. He later studied law at University College Dublin and King's Inns. These are important places for legal education in Ireland.

Becoming a Lawyer

In 1973, Peter Kelly officially became a lawyer, which is called being "called to the Irish Bar". He first worked in Brussels and Luxembourg for the European Division of the Department of Justice. This experience gave him a wider view of law. In 1975, he began working as a lawyer in Ireland. He also became a lawyer in England and Wales in 1981 and in Northern Ireland in 1983.

In 1986, he became a Senior Counsel. This means he was recognized as a very experienced and skilled lawyer. He mostly worked on cases about business and property law. He also helped with cases related to the Irish Constitution. Peter Kelly represented families who were seeking help after the tragic Stardust fire in 1986. He also had other notable clients during his career.

A Judge's Important Roles

Serving in the High Court

Peter Kelly became a High Court judge in 1996 when he was 46 years old. He was in charge of specific types of cases during his time there. For example, he managed the Chancery List from 1997 to 1999. He also oversaw the Judicial Review List from 1999 to 2003. In 2011, he became the first President of the Association of Judges of Ireland.

Leading the Commercial Court

In 2004, a new court was created within the High Court called the Commercial Court. Peter Kelly was chosen to lead it. This court was set up to handle very complex business cases or those involving large amounts of money (over €1 million). He helped create the rules for how this new court would work. The Commercial Court officially started in October 2004.

Peter Kelly continued to lead this court during a difficult time for Ireland's economy after 2008. He heard many important cases related to financial challenges. He dealt with cases involving large banks and business people. He saw many serious financial issues and dishonest actions during his time in this court.

Moving to the Court of Appeal

In 2014, the Court of Appeal was established. Peter Kelly was chosen to be one of its first judges. This court hears appeals from decisions made in lower courts.

President of the High Court

On December 21, 2015, Peter Kelly was appointed as the President of the High Court. This is a very senior position. As President, he also became a member of the Supreme Court of Ireland. When he was appointed, people in the legal community praised him. They described him as a very fair and hardworking judge with an excellent legal mind.

In 2016, he also served as the Acting President of the Court of Appeal for a short time. As President of the High Court, he made improvements to how the court protected people who needed special care. He retired on June 17, 2020, when he reached the age of 70, which is the mandatory retirement age for judges. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his colleagues gave him a special farewell instead of a big ceremony. At the time of his retirement, he was one of the longest-serving judges in Ireland.

Other Activities and Interests

Peter Kelly is an adjunct professor of law at Maynooth University. He also serves on the Council of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He is the chairman of the Edmund Rice Schools Trust and St. Francis Hospice, Raheny. In June 2022, he briefly served as a judge for the court of appeal in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) courts, but he resigned a few days later.

Personal Life

Peter Kelly lives in south Dublin. He is a Catholic.