Courts of the Republic of Ireland

The judicial system in the Republic of Ireland consists of the Supreme Court (Supreme Court ) of the High Court (Supreme Civil and Criminal Court ) and a number of subordinate courts. The Republic of Ireland has a system of civil law and litigation due to serious offenses are tried before a jury rule. The High Court and the Supreme Court have the option of laws and other state functions to check on their constitutionality. Except for special cases all court proceedings are to be dealt with publicly.

Parent dishes

The Supreme Court and the High Court were introduced by the Constitution of Ireland. The Supreme Court is regarded as the highest authority of the Irish jurisdiction in which but usually is only necessary to check whether all the laws have been respected. The decisions and judgments of the Supreme Court are final. The High Court also has the ability to interpret the constitutional texts. Furthermore, the most serious criminal court and civil court cases are heard in the High Court and it is considered Court of Appeals for the lower courts.

Subordinate Courts

The Supreme Court and the High Court are the only courts that are established by the Constitution. The other dishes were introduced by law. Below these two dishes are still the Circuit Court and the District Court The Circuit Court deals with offenses that must be tried before a jury and below the specifications (eg the amount of loss ) of the High Court lie. The District Court deals with all other cases.

The Parliament ( Oireachtas ) can be used if this holds it in terms of public policy for necessary proceedings before a military tribunal, and special courts: The Constitution only mentions two cases in which serious offenses without a jury can be negotiated. A court of the Special Criminal Court, the cases relating to organized crime or terrorist groups is negotiated.

Appointment and dismissal of judges

Judges are from the Irish President acting on the proposals (which are, however, binding) of the cabinet used. The process of the dismissal of a judge from one of the two upper courts is laid down in the Constitution, but this method was extended by law on the subordinate courts. A judge may, therefore, be dismissed only in cases of abuse of office or inability of his office and if it was decided by both houses of Parliament together in a resolution. With such a resolution, the judge is then dismissed by the President. The salary of a judge can not be reduced as long as he is in office.

Referendum 2013

In July 2013, a draft law passed both chambers of the Irish Parliament, with an additional Court of Appeal is to be created. This Court of Appeal is to be located between the High Court and the Supreme Court. The new Court will mainly take on tasks for which the Supreme Court was in charge so far, and their increase had led in recent years to a strong overload with a corresponding length of the proceedings. Since this is an amendment to the Irish Constitution, the Bill of the Irish population is put to a vote. The date for this referendum October 4, 2013 has been set.