Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of judges of the Supreme Court, High Court, Circuit Court and District Court; and the number of those who, immediately before appointment, were solicitors and barristers in respect of each court. [12700/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice and seven ordinary judges, together with the President of the High Court as an ex-officio member. The statutory maximum number may be exceeded by one when a judge of the Supreme Court is serving as president of the Law Reform Commission, as is currently the case. All of the judges of the Supreme Court were barristers immediately prior to their appointment to judicial office.

The High Court consists of the president and 31 ordinary judges, together with the Chief Justice and the president of the Circuit Court as ex-officio members. The statutory maximum number may be exceeded by one when a judge of the High Court is serving on the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission or when a judge of the High Court, who previously served as president of the Law Reform Commission, returns to the court. Both conditions are currently satisfied and, accordingly, the statutory maximum number may be exceeded by two. Of the 31 judges who have been appointed to the High Court, one was a solicitor at the time of his appointment to judicial office while 30 were barristers.

The Circuit Court consists of a president and 33 ordinary judges. The president of the District Court is an ex-officio member. The number of judges who have been appointed to the Circuit Court is 33, of whom eight were solicitors prior to their appointment to judicial office and 25 were barristers. The District Court consists of the president and 54 ordinary judges. Of the 55 judges appointed to the court, 46 were solicitors immediately before their appointment, while nine were barristers.