A conference examining the issue of judicial independence was held on Friday 24 June in the Inn of Court, Belfast. 

 

The conference was organised by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland and Law Centre (NI), with  help from the University of Ulster School of Law.

 

Philip Gilpin, Solicitor to the Attorney General for Northern Ireland, chaired the presentations, welcomed the audience and encouraged them to take part in the discussion.

 

Attendees heard from the Right Honourable Sir Declan Morgan Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, who outlined some of the challenges for the judiciary in Northern Ireland brought about by devolution of the Criminal Justice system. John F Larkin, QC, Attorney General for Northern Ireland, spoke about “The Limits of Judicial Independence”.

Conference also heard from European speakers: Judge Ann Power, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights, Gregor Volkommer, Justice Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union, and Professor Anne-Lise Sibony, University of Liege (pictured above).

John F Larkin, QC, Attorney General said, “The conference was an opportunity to hear from prominent international speakers on the subject of Judicial Independence, which is currently at the forefront of both local and international debate”.

 Les Allamby, Law Centre (NI) chaired the panel discussion, reflected on the discussion and underlined the importance of the debate.