David Barniville | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Barniville in 2024 | |
| President of theHigh Court | |
| Assumed office 13 July 2022 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
| Preceded by | Mary Irvine |
| Judge of theHigh Court | |
| Assumed office 13 July 2022 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
| In office 1 December 2017 – 30 August 2021 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
| Judge of theCourt of Appeal | |
| In office 30 August 2021 – 13 July 2022[nb 1] | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dublin, Ireland |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Henry Barniville (grandfather) |
| Education | Blackrock College |
| Alma mater | |
| |
David Barniville is an Irish judge who has served as President of theHigh Court since July 2022 and a Judge of theHigh Court since July 2022, and previously from 2017 to 2021. He previously served as a Judge of theCourt of Appeal from 2021 to 2022. He is also a former Chair of theBar Council of Ireland. He is anex officio member of theSupreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
Barniville is fromDublin. He was born toGeraldine and Harry (both international tennis players), while his grandfatherHenry Barniville was a member ofSeanad Éireann and surgeon.[1][2][3] He attended secondary school atBlackrock College.[4] He studied for a BCL degree atUniversity College Dublin, graduating in 1988.[5] He completed his studies at theKing's Inns.[6]
Barniville was called to theBar in July 1990 and became aSenior Counsel in October 2006.[6] He was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2016.[4] He is aBencher of the King's Inns and of Middle Temple.[7]
His practice as a barrister consisted of commercial law and constitutional and administrative law.[6] He was also an Accredited Mediator with a special interest inarbitration.[7] He was counsel for theBeef Tribunal and appeared withDonal O'Donnell forMichael Lowry at theMoriarty Tribunal.[8][9] He represented theMinister for Finance in the High Court on the nationalisation ofAllied Irish Banks in December 2010,[10] and again on the recapitalisation ofIrish Life & Permanent.[11]
He appeared regularly in theEuropean Court of Justice representing Ireland.[12][13]
He was the chairman of the Bar Council of Ireland between 2014 and 2016.[6] He has also been a member of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority, the Board of the Courts Service of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board and the Legal Aid Board.[7] In 2016, theMinister for Justice and EqualityFrances Fitzgerald sought clarifications from the Bar Council on the procedure of Barniville's appointment to the Legal Services Regulatory Authority. The Department of Justice and Equality was ultimately satisfied with the selection process.[14]
He is an adjunct professor of law at theUniversity of Limerick.[4] He has acted as a governor of theNational Maternity Hospital, Dublin and was the chair of Irish Rule of Law International.[7]
He was appointed a Judge of theHigh Court in December 2017.[15] He was the court's designated arbitration judge from June 2018.[7] As of 2020, he was the Judge in Charge of the Commercial List.[16][17]
In the High Court, he has presided over cases on matters including insolvency law,[18] injunctions,[19] defamation law,[20] and judicial review.[21] He was previously the Judge in Charge of the Strategic Infrastructure List,[7] hearing appeals ofAn Bord Pleanála decisions, including for developments atSaint Anne's Park andCherrywood, Dublin.[22][23]
He was appointed the chairperson of theReferendum Commission in September 2019 for a referendum onNonresident voting at Irish presidential elections.[24]
The appointment ofMaurice Collins as a part-time commissioner of theLaw Reform Commission permitted a vacancy on theCourt of Appeal. Barniville was nominated to fill the role in June 2021 and was appointed in August 2021.[25][26]
Barniville was nominated to become President of the High Court in June 2022, to succeedMary Irvine on her retirement in July 2022.[27][1] He was appointed on 13 July 2022.[28][29]
Barnville is married to Susan O'Connell and has three children.[26]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of the High Court July 2022–present | Incumbent |