About the Journal
The Irish Judicial Studies Journal (the Journal) is a learned legal publication aimed at the Irish judiciary. It is produced under the aegis of the Judicial Studies Institute, a body established pursuant to section 19 of the Court and Court Officers Act, 1995 to organise training, seminars and study visits for the judiciary. The primary purpose of the Journal is to provide Irish judges with information and opinions that are relevant and useful to them in their work.
Established in 2001, the Journal is aimed primarily at the Irish judiciary and is published on a bi-annual basis. The Journal was originally published in volumes; each containing two editions published six months apart. While the Journal is still published on a bi-annual basis, editions are not produced in volumes but identified by the year of their publication e.g. 2008 No. 2 and 2009 No. 1. The Journal is currently an online publication only. The Journal was not published between 2010 and 2017 but pre-2010 volumes are available in the Archive section of the website.
Mission Statement
The primary purpose of the Journal is to provide Irish judges with information and opinions that are relevant and useful to them in their work. It recognises that judges work not simply in a context of black-letter law but in a wider human, social and economic milieu. It also recognises that judges of different courts, or even of the same court, may have different experiences, interests and needs.
It therefore publishes articles dealing with substantive law, forthcoming changes in the law and the results of research into areas such as sentencing and family law. It seeks particularly to illuminate the judicial process, considering topics such as ethics, decision-making and support services. While aware of individual and general sensitivities, it does publish controversial articles and indeed encourages authors, particularly judges, to express opinions on topics of particular interest to them. It also publishes reviews of books of interest to judges.
The Journal also aims to provide a forum where academics and practitioners can communicate views on matters of law to the judiciary and to each other and vice versa. We have published articles in English, Irish, and French and we occasionally publish articles of a historical or philosophical nature.
The sources for articles include judges, practitioners, academics and also non-lawyers. A principal source of material is the papers given at the Judicial Studies Institute’s various seminars and conferences. The Journal however also actively seeks articles from other jurisdictions. The Journal also requests articles where they are needed.
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 Frank Clarke, Chief Justice, ex officio
Mr Justice Peter Charleton, Supreme Court
Mr Justice Brian Murray, Court of Appeal
Mr Justice Max Barrett, High Court
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 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.