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Ireland

Courts Act, 1985

In short

This law adjusts the number of judges allowed in the High Court and the Circuit Court, setting specific limits for each. It also makes related changes to other laws concerning the judiciary.

What it regulates

  • The maximum number of ordinary judges for the High Court.
  • The maximum number of ordinary judges for the Circuit Court.
  • The number of judges permanently assigned to the Dublin Circuit of the Circuit Court.
  • How certain references to judge numbers in other acts should be interpreted.

Who it concerns

  • The High Court and its ordinary judges.
  • The Circuit Court and its ordinary judges, particularly those assigned to the Dublin Circuit.

Key points

  • The number of ordinary judges of the High Court can be up to fifteen for a limited time, ending when the first vacancy occurs after April 2nd, 1987.
  • The number of ordinary judges of the Circuit Court shall not be more than fifteen.
  • There shall be six judges of the Circuit Court permanently assigned to the Dublin Circuit.
  • A judge can be assigned to the Dublin Circuit if there are fewer than six judges already permanently assigned there.
Legal text
Legal text

Courts Act, 1985 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.

  1. ie)Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.
  2. ie)Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(
  3. s)or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1985 Courts Act, 1985 Courts Act, 1985 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 Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 23 of 1985 COURTS ACT, 1985 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section 1. Number of ordinary judges of High Court. 2. Amendment of Courts Act, 1977. 3. Consequential. 4. Short title, collective citation and construction. Acts Referred to Courts Act, 1977 1977, No. 11 Courts Act, 1981 1981, No. 11 Courts (No. 2) Act, 1981 1981, No. 31 Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Acts, 1961 to 1983 Law Reform Commission Act, 1975 1975, No. 3 Number 23 of 1985 COURTS ACT, 1985 AN ACT TO ENABLE THE NUMBER OF ORDINARY JUDGES OF THE HIGH COURT TO BE, DURING A LIMITED PERIOD, NOT MORE THAN FIFTEEN AND TO ENABLE THE NUMBER OF ORDINARY JUDGES OF THE CIRCUIT COURT TO BE NOT MORE THAN FIFTEEN AND TO PROVIDE FOR CERTAIN OTHER RELATED MATTERS. [26th December, 1985] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: Number of ordinary judges of High Court. 1.—

(1)For so long as this section is in force the reference in section 1 of the Courts (No. 2) Act, 1981 , to fourteen shall be construed as being a reference to fifteen.
(2)This section shall cease to be in force on the day on which a vacancy amongst the ordinary judges of the High Court first occurs after the 2nd day of April,
  1. Amendment of Courts Act,
  2. 2.—The Courts Act, 1977 , is hereby amended— (a) in section 1, by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection
(2)(inserted by section 30 of the Courts Act, 1981 ): “
(2)The number of ordinary judges of the Circuit Court shall not be more than fifteen”, and (
  1. b)in section 2— (
  2. i)by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (
  3. a)(inserted by the said section 30) of subsection
(1): “(
  1. a)There shall be six judges of the Circuit Court permanently assigned to the Dublin Circuit.”, and (
  2. ii)by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (
  3. a)(inserted by the said section 30) of subsection
(2): “(a) to the Dublin Circuit if at the date of the appointment there are less than six judges permanently assigned to that circuit, or”. Consequential. 3.—For so long as section 1 of this Act is in force, paragraph (b)(inserted by the Courts (No. 2) Act, 1981 ) of subsection
(1)of section 14 of the Law Reform Commission Act, 1975 , shall be construed and have effect as if each of the references therein to fifteen were a reference to sixteen. Short title, collective citation and construction. 4.—
(1)This Act may be cited as the Courts Act, 1985.
(2)The Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Acts, 1961 to 1983, and this Act may be cited together as the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Acts, 1961 to 1985, and shall be construed together as one. 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.