About the Journal
The Irish Judicial Studies Journal is a peer-reviewed legal publication interfacing between the judges, legal practitioners, and academics. It is affiliated with the Judicial Studies Committee of the Judicial Council; a body established pursuant to section 17 of the Judicial Council Act 2019, which facilitates the continuing education and training of judges and publishes material especially relevant to the work of the judiciary. While the primary purpose of the Journal is to provide Irish judges with analyses and opinions pertinent to their work, it also provides a platform for all judges, practitioners and academics to engage in dialogue on legal issues.
Established in 2001, the IJSJ is published on a bi-annual basis. The Journal was originally published volume by volume, each containing two editions spaced six months apart. While the Journal is still published on a bi-annual basis, editions are not currently produced in volumes but are now on free-access online and identified by the year of their publication; e.g. 2008 No. 2 and 2009 No. 1. All are accessible at www.ijsj.ie
While the Journal was not published between 2010 and 2017 but pre-2010 volumes are available in the Archive section of the website.
The Journal is indexed on Scopus and vLex Justis and since 2017 has been produced in association with the University of Limerick and under an independent academic editor.
Mission Statement
The primary purpose of the Journal is to provide Irish judges with analyses and opinions that are relevant and useful to them in their work. In addition, the Journal also aims to provide a forum where academics and practitioners can communicate views on matters of law and judicial policy to the judiciary and to each other. It must be recognised that judges work not simply in a context of black-letter law but in a wider human, social and economic milieu, in the knowledge that judges of different courts, or even of the same court, may have different experiences, interests and needs.
The IJSJ therefore publishes articles dealing with substantive law, forthcoming changes in the law and the results of research into such diverse areas as sentencing and family law. The Journal seeks particularly to illuminate the judicial process by interfacing with topics such as ethics, decision-making and support services. While aware of individual and general sensitivities, the IJSJ encourages authors, particularly judges, to express opinions on issues of particular interest to them. It also publishes reviews of books of potential interest to judges.
The Journal has published articles in English, Irish, and French and also occasionally publishes articles of a historical or philosophical nature.
The sources for contributions include judges, practitioners and academics but the IJSJ pursues a policy of also accepting pieces written by non-lawyers. The Journal also actively seeks submissions from jurisdictions outside Ireland. Where an article seems needed on an issue, the Journal may also request a judicial, practitioner or academic contribution.
See here for our publication ethics and publication malpractice statement.
Editor in Chief
Dr Laura Cahillane, School of Law, University of Limerick
Editorial Team
Professor Paul McCutcheon, School of Law, University of Limerick
Dr Susan Leahy, School of Law, University of Limerick (Book review editor)
Dr Alan Cusack, School of Law, University of Limerick
Dr Lydia Bracken, School of Law, University of Limerick
Dr John Lombard, School of Law, University of Limerick
Dr Jennifer Schweppe, School of Law, University of Limerick
Eoin Quill, School of Law, University of Limerick
Dr Laura Donnellan, University of Limerick
Copy Editor
Bláithín O'Shea
Judicial Editorial Board
Mr Justice Donal O'Donnell, Chief Justice, ex officio
Mr Justice Peter Charleton, Supreme Court
Mr Justice Brian Murray, Supreme Court
Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, Court of Appeal
Mr Justice Max Barrett, High Court (Book Review Editor)
Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, High Court
Judge John O'Connor, Circuit Court
Disclaimer
Please note the following:
the views and opinions expressed in the articles published in this Journal are entirely personal to the author/s acting in their personal academic capacity and do not represent their professional view and/or opinions;
articles accepted for publication by the Journal do not represent the views and/or opinions of the Journal, its Editor in Chief, Editorial Board, members of the Judiciary, the Judicial Council or the Courts Service of Ireland;
articles published by the Journal are not intended to be relied upon as legal authority and the Journal accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions contained therein.