Peter Kelly (judge) facts for kids

Peter Thomas Kelly (born 17 June 1950) is a retired Irish judge. He held important roles in Ireland's legal system. He was the President of the High Court from 2015 to 2020. Before that, he served as a Judge of the High Court for many years (1996-2014 and 2015-2020). He also worked as a Judge of the Court of Appeal from 2014 to 2015. While he was President of the High Court, he was also a member of the Supreme Court of Ireland.

Early Life and Education

Peter Kelly was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1950. He went to O'Connell School for his early education. Later, he studied at University College Dublin and King's Inns. These are important places for legal education in Ireland.

Legal Career Highlights

After finishing school, Peter Kelly first worked as a civil servant. This means he worked for the government in an office that helps the High Court. In 1973, he became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer who argues cases in court.

• He worked in Brussels and Luxembourg for the Department of Justice. This was in the part that dealt with European Union matters.
• He started practicing law in 1975.
• He also became a barrister in England and Wales in 1981 and Northern Ireland in 1983.

In 1986, he became a Senior Counsel. This is a special title for experienced barristers. He mostly worked on cases about business and property law. He also handled cases related to the Irish Constitution. He helped families who were victims of the Stardust fire in 1986 to get compensation. He also represented well-known people like the Aga Khan.

Judicial Career

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 different types of cases. For example, he managed cases about property and cases where people asked for a review of government decisions.

He was known for standing up for vulnerable young people. In 2000, he ordered government ministers to provide special care for underage patients who needed it. This was a big deal because if the government didn't follow his order, the ministers could be in trouble with the court. The Supreme Court later agreed with his decision.

In 2011, he became the first President of the Association of Judges of Ireland. He also spoke out in 2013 about changes he felt were harming the legal system.

Leading the Commercial Court

In 2004, a new court called the Commercial Court was set up within the High Court. Peter Kelly was chosen to be its first leader. This court handles very complicated business cases or cases involving large amounts of money (over €1 million). He helped create the rules for how this court would work.

He continued to lead the Commercial Court during the time of Ireland's economic difficulties after 2008. He heard many important cases that came from the economic crash. He made a judgment for €2.2 billion against a person named Seán Quinn.

Moving to the Court of Appeal

When the Court of Appeal was created in 2014, Peter Kelly was one of the first six judges appointed to it. This court hears appeals from decisions made in lower courts.

Becoming President of the High Court

On 21 December 2015, Peter Kelly was appointed as the President of the High Court. This is a very important role. Because of this position, he also became a member of the Supreme Court of Ireland. When he was appointed, the head of the Law Society of Ireland said he was a "fearlessly independent judge with a ferocious work ethic." They also said he had a "first-class legal mind."

He was also the Acting President of the Court of Appeal for a while in 2016. As President of the High Court, he made sure there were better protections for people who needed court protection for their well-being.

Peter Kelly retired on 17 June 2020, when he reached the age of 70. This is the age when judges must retire. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he received a special farewell from his fellow judges instead of a big ceremony. At the time he retired, he had been an Irish judge for a very long time, making him the second-longest serving judge. The President of the Bar Council, Mícheál O’Higgins, praised his "competence, rigour, propriety and independence."

Other Roles and Activities

After retiring, Peter Kelly became a special 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, which are organizations that do good work in the community.

Personal Life

Peter Kelly lives in south Dublin.