John Gernoun, or Gernon (died) was an Irish landowner, soldier and judge who held office as Serjeant-at-law (Ireland) and Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas. He gave good service to the Crown during the Scottish Invasion of 1315-18, but as a judge, he was accused of injustice.
He claimed descent from the de Gernon family, who are described as "barons" in the Domesday Book. His father Roger Gernoun was a military commander who distinguished himself during the Bruce campaign in Ireland of 1315–1318.[1] John also fought in the campaign and was wounded in the hand at the Battle of Faughart in October 1318, where Edward Bruce was killed.[2] He served two terms as Serjeant, from 1327 to 1330 and from 1334 to 1337.[3] In the intervals he acted as attorney for the great heiress Elizabeth de Burgh, 4th Countess of Ulster, who had inherited her father's estates at an early age.[1] Her mother Maud of Lancaster, a cousin of King Edward III, had considerable influence at Court, and Gernoun benefited from her patronage.[4] He was a substantial landowner in County Louth and, as was the custom with judges in this era, he was excused from performing the normal feudal duties of a landowner.
He was appointed a justice of the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland) in 1338 and became its Chief Justice in 1341. He stepped down as Chief Justice in 1344 but was reappointed second justice of the Common Pleas in 1348.[5] As Chief Justice there were complaints that he would adjourn cases without reaching a final judgment. In 1345 one John de la Pulle, accused of assault by Margery Poe, complained that due to Gernoun's misconduct (described as the "intervention of error"), he could not get justice.[6] Gernoun's successor as Chief Justice, Thomas de Dent, was ordered to make a full inquiry and report to the Justiciar of Ireland.
In 135O he gave a quitclaim to John de Kerseley for all his tenements in Dundalk;[7] John Gernoun of Gernonstown, who received a royal pardon in 1422, was probably a descendant of the judge.[8]