William FitzGerald (Irish judge) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William FitzGerald
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|---|---|
| 5th Chief Justice of Ireland | |
| In office 25 September 1973 – 17 Oct 1974 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Éamon de Valera |
| Preceded by | Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh |
| Succeeded by | Tom O'Higgins |
| Judge of the Supreme Court | |
| In office 12 May 1966 – 17 October 1974 |
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| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Éamon de Valera |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William O'Brien FitzGerald
4 January 1906 Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 17 October 1974 (aged 68) Dublin, Ireland |
| Resting place | Deansgrange Cemetery, Dublin, Ireland |
| Spouse | Clare O'Brien (m. 1928; d. 1974) |
| Children | 9 |
| Education | Belvedere College |
| Alma mater | King's Inns |
William O'Brien FitzGerald (born January 4, 1906 – died October 17, 1974) was an important Irish lawyer and judge. He held two very high positions in Ireland's legal system.
He was a Judge of the Supreme Court from 1966 to 1974. Later, he became the Chief Justice of Ireland, which is the top judge in the country. He served in this role from 1973 until he passed away in 1974.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William FitzGerald was born in Cork, a city in Ireland, in 1906. He went to school at Belvedere College in Dublin. This is a well-known school.
After school, he studied law at King's Inns. This is a special place where people train to become barristers. Barristers are lawyers who speak in court.
A Career in Law
William FitzGerald became a barrister in 1927. This meant he could represent people in court. He worked hard and became a very respected lawyer.
In 1944, he joined the "Inner Bar." This is a special group of senior barristers. It shows he was highly skilled and experienced.
Becoming a Supreme Court Judge
William FitzGerald was chosen to be a judge on the Supreme Court in 1966. This was a big step in his career. The Supreme Court is the highest court in Ireland. It makes final decisions on legal cases.
He was appointed directly to this important role. This means he went straight from being a barrister to a Supreme Court judge.
Serving as Chief Justice
In 1972, the Chief Justice at the time, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, retired. William FitzGerald was then chosen to take his place. He became the Chief Justice of Ireland in 1973.
As Chief Justice, he was the head of the Irish court system. He led the Supreme Court and oversaw how justice was carried out. His time as Chief Justice was short, as he sadly passed away in October 1974.
