High Court

Information

In Ireland, the maximum number of ordinary judges who can be appointed to the High Court is 37. The President of the Circuit Court and the Chief Justice are also additional Judges of the High Court.

Normally the High Court sits in the capital of Ireland (Dublin) to hear original actions (i.e., cases that are not appeals from a lower court). It also sits in Cork and Galway four times each year; Limerick three times each year; Waterford, Sligo and Dundalk twice each year and Kilkenny and Ennis once a year to hear original actions.

The High Court hears appeals from the Circuit Court, in civil and family law matters, twice a year at the following venues outside Dublin - Carlow, Carrick-on-Shannon, Cavan, Castlebar, Clonmel, Cork, Dundalk, Ennis, Galway, Kilkenny, Letterkenny, Limerick, Longford, Monaghan, Mullingar, Naas, Nenagh, Portlaoise, Roscommon, Sligo, Tullamore, Tralee, Trim, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.

Matters coming before the High Court are normally heard and determined by one judge but the President of the High Court may direct that any case may be heard by three judges in what is known as a divisional court.

Rules

The High Court is not a court of local or limited jurisdiction. Its jurisdiction in criminal and civil cases is described in the High Court - Criminal Jurisdiction and the High Court - Civil Jurisdiction.