Elizabeth Dunne (born 12 January 1956) is an Irish judge who has served as a Judge of the

Supreme Court of Ireland , image = Coat of arms of Ireland.svg , imagesize = 120px , alt = , caption = Coat of Arms of Ireland , image2 = Four Courts, Dublin 2014-09-13.jpg , imagesize2 = , alt2 ...

since July 2013. She previously served as a Judge of the High Court from 2004 to 2013 and a Judge of the Circuit Court from 1996 to 2004.

Early career

Dunne was educated at

University College Dublin University College Dublin (commonly referred to as UCD) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile, Baile Átha Cliath) is a public research university in Dublin, Ireland, and a collegiate university, member institution of the National University of Ireland ...

and received a

Bachelor of Civil Law Bachelor of Civil Law (abbreviated BCL, or B.C.L.; la, Baccalaureus Civilis Legis) is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. The BCL originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Camb ...

degree and then subsequently studied at the

King's Inns The Honorable Society of King's Inns ( ir, Cumann Onórach Óstaí an Rí) is the "Inn of Court" for the Bar of Ireland. Established in 1541, King's Inns is Ireland's oldest school of law and one of Ireland's significant historical environment ...

. She was called to the

Bar Bar or BAR may refer to: Food and drink * Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages * Candy bar * Chocolate bar Science and technology * Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment * Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud * Bar (u ...

in 1977. She had a broad practice, encompassing family, commercial, chancery and banking law and defamation law proceedings. In 1986, she appeared on '' The Late Late Show'' with

Harry Whelehan Harry Whelehan (born 17 February 1944) is an Irish barrister and judge who served as President of the High Court from 15 November 1994 to 17 November 1994, a Judge of the High Court from November 1994 to December 1994 and Attorney General of ...

in a simulated court argument to advocate a vote in favour of the

Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland The Fifteenth Amendment of the Constitution Act 1995 (previously bill no. 15 of 1995) is an amendment of the Constitution of Ireland which removed the constitutional prohibition on divorce, and allowed for the dissolution of a marriage provided ...

. She co-signed a letter in 1983 opposing the Eighth Amendment. She became a

Bencher A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales or the Inns of Court in Northern Ireland, or the Honorable Society of King's Inns in Ireland. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can ...

of the King's Inns in 2004.

Judicial career

Circuit Court

Dunne was appointed a Judge of the Circuit Court in 1996. She was primarily a judge on the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She also heard cases involving personal injuries and employment law.

High Court

She became a Judge of the High Court in 2004. Dunne was the chairperson of the

Referendum Commission A Referendum Commission ( ga, An Coimisiún Reifrinn) is an independent statutory body in Ireland which is set up in advance of any referendum. The Referendum Act 1998 as amended by the Referendum Act 2001 provides for the establishment of the bod ...

established for the 32nd Amendment Bill 2013 and 33rd Amendment of the

Constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of Legal entity, entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed. When ...

Supreme Court

She was appointed to the Supreme Court by

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

Michael D. Higgins Michael Daniel Higgins ( ga, Mícheál Dónal Ó hUigínn; born 18 April 1941) is an Irish politician, poet, sociologist, and broadcaster, who has served as the ninth president of Ireland since November 2011. Entering national politics throug ...

, on the nomination of the

Government of Ireland The Government of Ireland ( ga, Rialtas na hÉireann) is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland. The Constitution of Ireland vests executive authority in a government which is headed by the , the head of government. The governm ...

in July 2013.

Personal life

She is married to James Dwyer, a barrister. Their two children Daniel and Lucy are both barristers.

References

1956 births Living people Irish barristers Judges of the Supreme Court of Ireland Alumni of University College Dublin Irish women judges Circuit Court (Ireland) judges People from County Roscommon High Court judges (Ireland) Chairpersons of the Referendum Commission Alumni of King's Inns {{Ireland-law-bio-stub