A total of 111 judges were the subject of complaints to the Judicial Council last year, yet none of these complaints were deemed admissible, reports Breaking News.
This is outlined in the 2024 Judicial Conduct Committee Report, which shows that 296 complaints were received in total—a 26% rise compared to the 216 complaints recorded in 2023.
Contained in the Judicial Council’s 2024 Annual Report, the Judicial Conduct Committee’s report highlights that one person submitted 28 separate complaints, while another individual made 15, reports Breaking News.
Despite this, 237 complaints were ruled inadmissible, and not a single one was accepted as admissible.
At the close of the year, 30 complaints were still under consideration.
The report states that “no complaint made during 2024 was, after such consideration, identified by the Registrar or the Complaints Review Committee as having disclosed a stateable case of judicial misconduct”, reports Breaking News.
Kevin O’Neill, Secretary to the Judicial Council, commented in the report that “the baseless conclusions that a judge is biased in favour of the opposing parties by reason of not listening to everything which a complainant wishes to say, or because of dissatisfaction with a decision, is regularly raised as a complaint.”
Mr O’Neill also remarked that “it unfortunately continues to be the experience that many complainants continue to incorrectly perceive this system as an opportunity to express dissatisfaction with the outcome of court cases, whether or not they were actively involved in those cases”, reports Breaking News.
It is estimated that more than 90% of the complaints originated from individuals who represented themselves during court proceedings.
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Mr O’Neill said: “My own experience is that many complaints fall far short of the threshold for admissibility set out in the Act. The prevalence of complaints from unrepresented parties continues to suggest that persons who do not have the benefit of legal advice have greater difficulty understanding the court process and what has occurred and why. Persons attending court, particularly for the first time, understandably find the experience to be overwhelming and difficult to comprehend,” reports Breaking News.
Mr O’Neill stated that, having reviewed over 500 complaints by the end of 2024—including listening to recordings from many hearings—“the conduct of the Irish judiciary is of the highest standard”.
He added: “In addition, our judges in my experience show remarkable restraint, including when encountering significant provocation,” reports Breaking News.
According to the report, “it is unfortunately the position that 167 complaints – 70 per cent of the total received – were found inadmissible as relating to decisions made in cases with which the complainant was dissatisfied”, reports Breaking News.
It further noted that “a continuing feature in 2024 was that multiple complaints were made by the same complainant. Two complainants made a total of 43 complaints between them in 2024. Several complainants continue to make inadmissible complaints directed at the same judge. To a large extent, the increase in complaints made compared with 2023 was for this reason”, reports Breaking News.
Chief Justice and chair of the Judicial Council, Mr Justice Donal O’Donnell, said: “A pattern is emerging of a small number of regular complainants generating a large number of the complaints dealt with, and also a significant number of complaints made by individual litigants which are often inadmissible as they are complaints about the outcome of a case rather than the conduct of the judge. The administration of justice is a vital function in today’s world and public discussion, commentary and criticism is important in ensuring that the task is performed as well as possible. Judges must be resilient enough to accept such commentary and recognise the positive role it can play,” reports Breaking News.
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