Tara Burns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tara Burns
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| Judge of the Court of Appeal | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2023 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
| Judge of the High Court | |
| In office 28 June 2018 – 4 July 2023 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Education | Mercy College, Sligo |
| Alma mater |
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Tara Burns is an Irish judge. She has been a judge in the Court of Appeal since July 2023. Before that, she was a judge in the High Court from 2018 to 2023. She also led the Referendum Commission for a vote in 2019. This vote was about changing the Irish Constitution.
Before becoming a judge, she worked as a barrister. Barristers are lawyers who speak in court. She focused on cases about criminal law. She has continued to work on criminal cases as a judge.
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Early Life and Education
Tara Burns was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. However, she grew up in Sligo, Ireland. She went to Mercy College in Sligo. In 1993, she earned a law degree from University College Dublin.
Her Career as a Lawyer
Tara Burns became a barrister in 1995. This means she could represent people in court. In 2013, she became a senior counsel. This is a more experienced type of barrister.
She often worked on criminal cases. She represented both people accused of crimes and the Director of Public Prosecutions. This office decides if someone should be charged with a crime. She also worked in courts in the Midland and Northern parts of Ireland.
Her Work as a Judge
Becoming a High Court Judge
Tara Burns was appointed a judge of the High Court on June 28, 2018. In this role, she heard many important cases. These included cases about serious crimes.
In November 2018, she was assigned to the Special Criminal Court. This court handles specific types of serious cases. In 2020, she was in charge of the High Court's list of asylum cases. These cases involve people seeking protection in Ireland.
Leading the Referendum Commission
In February 2019, she was chosen to lead the Referendum Commission. This group helps people understand important votes. The vote in May 2019 was about changing the Irish Constitution.
Judge Burns traveled around Ireland to encourage people to vote. She even attended a special event where 2,500 people became Irish citizens. The Commission spent about €2.34 million on its work. She believed it would be good to have a permanent group for elections. She also thought the system for registering voters should be updated.
Becoming a Court of Appeal Judge
In May 2023, she was put forward to become a judge in the Court of Appeal. She officially started this new role in July 2023. The Court of Appeal hears cases that have already been decided in lower courts.
