Brian McGovern | |
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Judge of the Court of Appeal | |
In office 28 June 2018 – 15 March 2020 | |
Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
Judge of the High Court | |
In office 11 March 2006 – 25 June 2018 | |
Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
Appointed by | Mary McAleese |
Personal details | |
Nationality | Irish |
Education | Castleknock College |
Alma mater | |
Brian J. McGovern is a retired Irish judge who served as a Judge of the Court of Appeal from June 2018 to March 2020 and a Judge of the High Court from 2007 to 2010.
McGovern attended Castleknock College and obtained a BCL from University College Dublin in 1971. He attended the King's Inns and was called to the Bar in 1972. He became a senior counsel in 1991.[1] During his career as a barrister he frequently practiced in areas of both criminal and civil law. He served as President of the Irish Maritime Law Association.[1] He represented Total S.A. in an inquiry into the Whiddy Island disaster.[2]
He was appointed to the High Court in 2006.[1] Soon after his appointment he heard a case regarding the right of access of a woman to frozen embryos against the wishes of her husband.[3] He acted as the designated arbitration judge for Ireland until his appointment to the Court of Appeal.[4] He was also the presiding judge in the specialist Commercial Court.[5] In the Commercial Court, he was the trial judge for high-profile disputes involving Rory McIlroy, Gay Byrne and Mick Wallace.[6][7][8]
McGovern was appointed to the Court of Appeal in June 2018.[9] He retired as a judge in March 2020.[3]
Following his retirement, he continues to serve in a judicial function as a member of the three-judge statutory tribunal into matters arising from the CervicalCheck cancer scandal with chairperson Ann Power and Tony O'Connor.[10]