Raymond Groarke Explained

Raymond Groarke
Office:President of the Circuit Court
Term Start:20 July 2012
Term End:12 July 2019
Nominator:Government of Ireland
Appointer:Michael D. Higgins
Predecessor:Matthew Deery
Successor:Patricia Ryan
Office1:Judge of the Circuit Court
Term Start1:29 January 1996
Term End1:10 January 2022
Nominator1:Government of Ireland
Appointer1:Mary Robinson
Nationality:Irish
Education:Clongowes Wood College

Raymond Groarke (born 1952) is a retired Irish judge who served as President of the Circuit Court from 2012 to 2019 and a Judge of the Circuit Court from 1996 to 2022.[1]

Early life

Groarke was born in 1952. He was educated at Clongowes Wood College, University College Dublin and the King's Inns.[2] He was called to the Bar in 1973.[3] He practiced as a barrister, predominantly on the Midlands circuit.

Judicial career

Circuit Court

In 1996, he was appointed a judge of the Circuit Court. He was assigned to the Eastern Circuit between 1998 and 2005, before moving to the Western Circuit.

Following the end of his term as president, he returned to sit as an ordinary Circuit Court judge in County Galway and County Mayo for the Western Circuit.[4]

President of the Circuit Court

He was appointed President of the Circuit Court in 2012. As President of the Circuit Court and through the remainder of his term as an ordinary judge, he was an Latin: Ex officio member of the High Court.[5]

His term concluded in July 2019. He was succeeded by Patricia Ryan.[6]

Retirement

His final day as a judge was 10 January 2022.[7]

Personal life

Groarke is married to Joan.

Notes and References

  1. News: New Presidents nominated for the Circuit and District Courts . Irish Government New Service www.merrionstreet.ie . 12 June 2012 . 18 January 2016 . 28 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160428080342/http://www.merrionstreet.ie/en/News-Room/News/new-presidents-nominated-for-the-circuit-and-district-courts.html . live .
  2. News: Longford Judge appointed to top position . . 26 June 2012 . 18 January 2016 . 23 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210923133317/https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/local-news/138917/Longford-Judge--appointed-to-top.html . live .
  3. News: Cleary . Catherine . A tale of two solicitors: a young woman and a Longford friend of 23 years . 9 January 2022 . The Irish Times . 20 November 1996 . en.
  4. News: Legal eagles cut loose as court presidency handed over . Irish Examiner . 13 July 2019 . 13 July 2019 . 13 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190713230731/https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/irish-examiner/20190713/281895889815085 . live .
  5. Web site: The Judges . Courts.ie . 9 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211130231940/https://www.courts.ie/judges . 30 November 2021.
  6. News: Managh . Ray . Singing and thumping in civil court as tributes paid to Justice Groarke . 9 January 2022 . The Irish Times . 15 July 2019 . en.
  7. News: Former Circuit Court President to retire . 9 January 2022 . www.lawsociety.ie.