FOR THE FIRST time ever in the Supreme Court, a five judge panel today was made up of four female judges.

The Courts Service said “history is made” with four female judges sitting with the Chief Justice.

The court consisted of Chief Justice, Frank Clarke, Justice Elizabeth Dunne, Justice Iseult O’Malley, Justice Mary Irvine and Justice Marie Baker.

There have been instances where a panel of seven has had four female judges, but this is the first time such a large percentage of the court sitting (80%) was female.

Paddy Cummins Paddy Cummins

The Courts Service said the presence of females on the bench has increased greatly in Ireland over the past 25 years. In 1996 female judges made up just 13% of the total across all courts – today that figure is 38%.

• In the Supreme Court there are 9 judges of whom 4 or 45% are female.
• In the Court of Appeal there are 15 judges of which 7 or 47% are female.
• At High Court level there are 11 females amongst the forty judges – or 28%.

In total there are currently 167 judges in Ireland – of whom 63 are female.

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