Fidelma Macken

The Honourable
Fidelma Macken
SC
Judge of the Supreme Court
In office
20 May 2005 – 6 June 2012
Nominated by Government of Ireland
Appointed by Mary McAleese
Judge of the High Court
In office
19 October 2004 – 20 May 2005
Nominated by Government of Ireland
Appointed by Mary McAleese
In office
30 July 1998 – 5 October 1999
Nominated by Government of Ireland
Appointed by Mary McAleese
Judge of the European Court of Justice
In office
5 October 1999 – 22 September 2004
Nominated by Government of Ireland
Appointed by European Council
Personal details
Born Fidelma Nora O'Kelly
(1942-02-28) 28 February 1942
Dublin, Ireland
Nationality Irish
Political party Labour Party
Spouse(s) Anthony Macken (m. 1972)
Children 1
Residence London, United Kingdom
Alma mater

Fidelma Nora Macken SC (née O'Kelly; born 28 February 1942) is a retired Irish judge who served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland from 2005 to 2012, Judge of the High Court from 1998 to 1999 and between 2004 to 2005 and Judge of the European Court of Justice from 1999 to 2004.[1][1]

She succeeded John L. Murray, Chief Justice since July 2004, as Ireland's appointee on the European Court of Justice (ECJ) from 5 October 1999 to 22 September 2004.[2][3] Appointed initially for a five-year term, she was the first female appointee to the European Court of Justice but had her mandate renewed in 2003. She was reappointed a justice of the High Court on 18 October 2004 on her return to Ireland.[4] She served a Supreme Court judge from 2005 to 2012.[4]

Macken was educated at King's Inns and Trinity College.[1] She became a barrister in 1972; practiced as legal adviser, Patents and Trade Marks Agents (1973–1979) and became a Senior Counsel in 1995.

As a lawyer, she specialised on medical defence work and pharmaceutical actions. She acted as defence counsel in a series of cases brought by children against whooping cough vaccine manufacturers for damage allegedly caused by the vaccine. The Supreme Court nominated her to act in three referrals by the President of Ireland querying the constitutionality of new legislation before she became a judge.

She has been a lecturer in Legal Systems and Methods and Averil Deverell Lecturer in Law at Trinity College Dublin.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Current judges of the Supreme Court". SupremeCourt.ie. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
  2. ↑ Fidelma Macken Appointed to European Court of Justice, European Report, 22 September 1999.
  3. ↑ Female Euro Judge Leaves, Daily Mirror, 14 October 2004.
  4. 1 2 "Govt makes new judicial appointments". BreakingNews.ie. 19 May 2005.
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