Irish barrister, Court of Appeal judge
Tara Burns is an Irish judge who has served as a Judge of the Court of Appeal since July 2023. She previously served as a Judge of the High Court from 2018 to 2023. She was the Chairperson of the Referendum Commission for a 2019 referendum on divorce.
She formerly practiced as a barrister specialising in criminal law and has continued to focus on criminal trials while serving on the bench.
Early life
Burns was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada[citation needed], but grew up in Sligo, Ireland. She attended Mercy College, Sligo.[1] She obtained a BCL from University College Dublin in 1993.[2]
Legal career
Burns was a barrister from 1995 and became a senior counsel in 2013.[1] She frequently appeared in criminal cases for both defendants and the Director of Public Prosecutions.[3][4] She appeared on behalf of the Garda Commissioner at the Morris Tribunal in 2002 and represented Superintendent Dave Taylor at the Disclosures Tribunal.[5][6] She also often practised on the Midland and Northern Circuits.[6]
Judicial career
High Court
Burns was appointed a judge of the High Court on 28 June 2018.[7] She has heard cases involving sexual offences[8] and homicide.[9]
In November 2018, she was assigned to the Special Criminal Court.[10] She was the judge in charge of the Asylum List of the High Court in 2020.[11]
Referendum Commission
She was appointed chairperson of the Referendum Commission in February 2019 for the May 2019 referendum to amend the Constitution.[12] Burns attended events around Ireland to promote voter participation in the referendum, including a ceremony to confer Irish citizenship on 2,500 people.[13][14] The Commission spent €2.34 million. Burns endorsed the idea of having a permanent electoral commission and modernising the voter registration system.[15]
Court of Appeal
She was nominated for appointment to the Court of Appeal in May 2023.[16] She was appointed in July 2023.[17]
References
