Courts Act 2023

In short

This law, the Courts Act 2023, increases the number of judges in various courts across Ireland. It specifically amends existing laws to allow for more judges in the Court of Appeal, High Court, Circuit Court, and District Court.

What it regulates

The maximum number of ordinary judges for the Court of Appeal.
The maximum number of ordinary judges for the High Court.
The maximum number of ordinary judges for the Circuit Court.
The maximum number of judges for the District Court, in addition to its President.

Who it concerns

The Court of Appeal.
The High Court.
The Circuit Court.
The District Court.

Key points

The Court of Appeal can now have not more than 17 ordinary judges.
The High Court can now have not more than 48 ordinary judges.
The Circuit Court can now have not more than 45 ordinary judges.
The District Court can now have not more than 71 judges, in addition to the President of the District Court.

Legal text

Courts Act 2023 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.

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s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 2023 Courts Act 2023 Courts Act 2023 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 12 of 2023 COURTS ACT 2023 CONTENTS Section 1. Definition 2. Number of ordinary judges of Court of Appeal 3. Amendment of Sixth Schedule to Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 4. Number of ordinary judges of High Court 5. Number of ordinary judges of Circuit Court 6. Number of judges of District Court 7. Short title and collective citation Acts Referred to Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 (No. 46) Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 (No. 14) Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 (No. 14) Courts (Establishment and Constitution) Act 1961 (No. 38) Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 (No. 39) Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Acts 1961 to 2021 Courts Act 2019 (No. 30) Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Act 2007 (No. 4) Courts and Court Officers Act 1995 (No. 31) Number 12 of 2023 COURTS ACT 2023 An Act to provide for an increase in the number of ordinary judges of the Court of Appeal and, for that purpose, to amend the Courts (Establishment and Constitution) Act 1961 ; to provide for an increase in the number of ordinary judges of the High Court, ordinary judges of the Circuit Court and judges of the District Court and, for those purposes, to amend the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 and the Courts and Court Officers Act 1995 ; and to provide for related matters. [19th May, 2023] Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows: Definition 1. In this Act, “Act of 1995” means the Courts and Court Officers Act 1995 . Number of ordinary judges of Court of Appeal 2. Section 1A

(2)of the Courts (Establishment and Constitution) Act 1961 is amended by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (

b)(amended by section 1 of the Courts Act 2019 ): “(
b)not more than 17 ordinary judges, each of whom shall be styled ‘Breitheamh den Chúirt Achomhairc’ (‘Judge of the Court of Appeal’).”. Amendment of Sixth Schedule to Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 3. The Sixth Schedule to the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961 is amended in paragraph 2

(1)by the substitution of the following clause for clause (

b)(amended by section 5 of the Courts and Court Officers (Amendment) Act 2007 ): “(
b)Where, at the time of the appointment of a person to be a judge of the District Court, there are 28 judges of the District Court not permanently assigned to particular districts, the Government shall assign that person permanently to a particular district.”. Number of ordinary judges of High Court 4. Section 9 (amended by section 8 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2021 ) of the Act of 1995 is amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection

(1): “

(1)Subject to subsection

(2), the number of ordinary judges of the High Court shall not be more than 48.”. Number of ordinary judges of Circuit Court 5. The Act of 1995 is amended by the substitution of the following section for section 10 (amended by section 98

(1)of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 ): “

The number of ordinary judges of the Circuit Court shall not be more than 45.”. Number of judges of District Court
Section 11 of the Act of 1995 is amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection

(1)(amended by section 32 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 ): “

(1)The number of judges of the District Court in addition to the President of the District Court shall not be more than 71.”. Short title and collective citation 7.

(1)This Act may be cited as the Courts Act 2023.

(2)The Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Acts 1961 to 2021 and sections 3 , 4 , 5 and 6 may be cited together as the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Acts 1961 to 2023. Privacy Statement Accessibility European Legislation Identifier (PDF) Open Data License Ráiteas Príobháideachais Inrochtaineacht Aitheantóir Eorpach Reachtaíochta (ELI) Ceadúnas Sonraí Oscailte Liosta Fianán © Government of Ireland. Oireachtas Copyright Material is reproduced with the permission of the Houses of the Oireachtas © Rialtas na hÉireann. Atáirgtear ábhar faoi Chóipcheart le cead ó Thithe an Oireachtais

AI explanation based on the official legal text. Indicative, not a substitute for legal advice.