Séamus Woulfe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Séamus Woulfe
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Woulfe in 2024
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| Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland | |
| Assumed office 23 July 2020 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
| 31st Attorney General of Ireland | |
| In office 14 June 2017 – 27 June 2020 |
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| Taoiseach | Leo Varadkar |
| Preceded by | Máire Whelan |
| Succeeded by | Paul Gallagher |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1962 (age 62–63) Raheny, Dublin, Ireland |
| Spouse | Sheena Hickey |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Belvedere College |
| Alma mater |
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Séamus Philip Woulfe (born 1962) is an Irish judge and lawyer. He has been a judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland since July 2020. Before that, he was the Attorney General of Ireland from 2017 to 2020. As a lawyer, he worked on business and public law cases.
He studied law at Trinity College Dublin and Dalhousie University. He became a barrister, a type of lawyer, in 1987. He worked on cases in Irish and European courts. He also taught law and helped with legal reviews.
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Early Life and Education
Séamus Philip Woulfe was born in 1962 in Raheny, Dublin. He went to Belvedere College for his schooling. He finished there in 1980.
He earned a law degree from Trinity College Dublin in 1984. He also played squash for his university team. Later, he got another law degree from Dalhousie University in Canada in 1986. He then studied at the King's Inns to become a barrister in 1987.
Legal Career as a Barrister
Woulfe started working as a barrister in Ireland in 1987. In 2005, he became a Senior Counsel. This means he was a very experienced lawyer. He mainly worked on cases about business and public law.
He also helped review how doctors and nurses practiced their jobs. He worked on important cases that helped clarify Irish law. For example, he worked on a case about how much freedom politicians have to speak in parliament.
He also represented students' unions in court. These cases were about important social issues. In 2013, he investigated a land deal for the government. He also helped a politician challenge a decision by his political party.
For many years, Woulfe taught law part-time at Trinity College Dublin. He also helped improve how legal reviews are done in Ireland. He was involved in a group that looked after the well-being of lawyers. He also helped with anti-doping rules in Irish sports.
Serving as Attorney General
In June 2017, Séamus Woulfe became the Attorney General of Ireland. The Attorney General is the main legal adviser to the Irish government. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar chose him for this important role.
During his time as Attorney General, he gave legal advice on many big issues. He advised on a public vote to change the Irish Constitution. He also advised on new laws during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also advised on whether a certain bill, the Occupied Territories Bill, was allowed under the Constitution. The government decided not to support it based on his advice. He also advised that the 2020 general election could still happen after a candidate sadly passed away.
After the 2020 election, he represented the government in a court case. This case was about whether the Irish Senate could meet without all its members. The court agreed with his advice. He finished his term as Attorney General in June 2020.
Becoming a Supreme Court Judge
After being Attorney General, Woulfe briefly returned to working as a barrister. In July 2020, the government chose him to be a judge on the Supreme Court of Ireland. The Supreme Court is the highest court in Ireland.
He was officially appointed on July 23, 2020. He made his promise to uphold the law the next day.
Controversy at a Dinner Event
In August 2020, Séamus Woulfe attended a dinner. This dinner was hosted by the Oireachtas Golf Society in County Galway. At the time, there were rules and guidelines in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
His attendance caused a lot of discussion and public concern. Many people felt it went against the spirit of the rules. He said sorry for going to the dinner.
Review of His Attendance
Because of the controversy, a former Chief Justice, Susan Denham, was asked to review his attendance. Her report was published in October 2020. She said that Woulfe should not have gone to the dinner.
However, she also said that he did not break any laws or official guidelines. She felt that asking him to resign would be unfair. The Supreme Court judges accepted her findings.
After the report, the Chief Justice, Frank Clarke, spoke with Woulfe. There was a lot of discussion about the situation. Woulfe said he would not resign. He believed he had not broken any rules and that his independence as a judge was important.
The government decided not to take any further action against him. In February 2021, Séamus Woulfe began hearing cases in the Supreme Court. He has written judgments on cases about legal reviews, planning, criminal law, and European Union law.
Personal Life
Séamus Woulfe lives in Clontarf, Dublin. He is married to Sheena Hickey. They have two children.
