Appointment of three women to senior judicial positions hailed as 'huge milestone'
The appointment of three women to senior judicial positions in Northern Ireland represents a “huge milestone”, Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan declared today.
Moira Smyth KC and Fiona Doherty KC were sworn in as new High Court judges at a ceremony in Belfast.
Madam Justice McBride also took office as a Lady Justice of Appeal during the event held in the Royal Courts of Justice.
Dame Siobhan told their families, friends and colleagues it was the first time so many women have taken senior posts on the bench.
“It is a huge milestone… in the evolving face of the judiciary in Northern Ireland,” she said. “We are still in an era where the appointment of three women is remarkable.”
A graduate of Queen’s University Belfast, Ms Justice Smyth was called to the Bar in 1995 and appointed as senior counsel in 2014.
During her career she has developed an expertise in family law, appearing in complex and highly sensitive cases involving children and vulnerable adults.
From 2022 to 2024 she served as Chair of the Bar of Northern Ireland, and has also been a Deputy County Court Judge since 2023.
Ms Justice Doherty studied law at Trinity College Dublin, going on to obtain a Master’s Degree with distinction in Human Rights and Emergency Law from Queen’s University in Belfast.
Called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1997 and the Bar of Ireland four years later, she took silk in 2014.
Ms Justice Doherty has practiced in public law and coronial law, specialising in judicial review and human rights cases.
She is a former chair of the Bar’s Professional Conduct Committee and member of the Advocacy Training Board.
Alongside them at the ceremony, Madam Justice McBride was confirmed as a Lady Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland.
She is taking up the new position following a legal career which saw her and Dame Siobhan becoming the first female High Court judges in the jurisdiction back in 2015.
Since then she has served in a number of judicial roles, including as Chancery Judge, Commercial Judge and Senior Crown Court Judge.
The Lady Chief Justice likened the appointments to waiting for the proverbial bus, only for three to come along at once.
Welcoming her new female colleagues, she described it as an auspicious event which will help ensure the justice system remains fair and trusted by all.
Dame Siobhan added: “It is evidence of the progress being made towards a more representative and inclusive bench.”