James Geoghegan

James Frank Geoghegan (8 December 1886 – 27 March 1951) was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician, barrister and judge who served as a judge of the Supreme Court from 1936 to 1950, Attorney General of Ireland from November 1936 to December 1936 and Minister for Justice from 1932 to 1933. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Longford–Westmeath constituency from 1930 to 1936.^[1]

Early life

Geoghegan was born in Walshestown, County Westmeath, the son of Thomas Geoghegan, a farmer, and his wife Bridget (née Carney). He was educated at CBS Mullingar.

Career

Geoghegan adopted the profession of law. He was admitted a solicitor at the age of 21 and practised in Cavan and Monaghan. Relinquishing the solicitor side of the profession, he was called to the Bar on 1 November 1915. He practised successfully as Junior counsel before he was called to the Inner Bar in 1925, having being called to the British Bar in 1923.

Geoghegan was an admirer of Éamon de Valera and often assisted the new Fianna Fáil Party in legal matters. This association developed his interest in politics and he was elected to Dáil Éireann in a by-election on 13 June 1930 as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála (TD) for the Longford–Westmeath constituency.^[2] When Fianna Fáil took office in 1932, he was appointed Minister for Justice, a post which he held for almost a year before resigning to resume his law career. Over the next few years he represented the government in a number of important legal actions.

In 1936 Geoghegan became Attorney General of Ireland,^[3] serving for less than two months. In spite of his brief tenure he assisted the government in the preparation and enactment of the External Relations Act, before being appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court on 22 December 1936. He immediately resigned his Dáil seat. Geoghegan remained on the bench of the Supreme Court until his retirement, due to ill health, in April 1950. His son, Hugh Geoghegan enjoyed the distinction in 2000 of being the first appointee to Ireland's Supreme Court to follow in his father's footsteps.

Later life and death

Geoghegan had suffered ill health for a number of years before his retirement. He died in Portobello House, Dublin on 27 March 1951.

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