John Gillen (judge)
Sir John Gillen | |
---|---|
Born | 18 November 1947 ![]() |
Alma mater | |
Occupation | Lawyer, judge ![]() |
Website | https://www.judiciary-ni.gov.uk/about-judiciary/gillen-j ![]() |
Sir John Gillen QC, PC (born 18 November 1947[1]), known also as The Right Honourable Lord Justice Gillen, and before that as Mr Justice Gillen, is a Privy Councillor and was one of the Lords Justices of Appeal of Northern Ireland, from September 2014-November 2017.[1][2][3]
Gillen attended Cregagh Primary School, then the Methodist College, Belfast, and Queen's College, Oxford.[4] He was called to the Bar in 1970 and took silk in 1983.[1][4]
He was appointed as a High Court judge in Belfast, replacing Lord Justice MacDermott, on the latter's retirement.[4] Gillen was sworn in before the then Lord Chief Justice, Sir Robert Carswell on 6 January 1999.[4]
He was appointed to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom in November 2014.[5]
In 2016, an off-duty police officer who was representing himself in a house repossession case against Santander that Gillen was hearing tried to arrest him.[6] The officer was himself arrested, on suspicion of common assault, but was released without charge.[6] He was though sentenced, by Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan, to three months jail for contempt of court, with the possibility of release after 28 days if he apologised.[7][8]
From 2015 to 2017, he conducted a review of Civil and Family Justice in Northern Ireland.[9][10][11]
Gillan is married and has two daughters.[4]
References
- ^ a b c "The Rt Hon Lord Justice Gillen". Debrett's. Archived from the original on 2016-03-11.
- ^ "Completed Recruitment Schemes". Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission. Archived from the original on 2015-07-11.
5 September 2014 - Her Majesty the Queen has appointed The Honourable Mr Justice Gillen as a Lord Justice of Appeal in Northern Ireland.
- ^ "Salaried Judicial Complement (as at 7 September 2015)". Judiciary of Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 2015-10-21.
- ^ a b c d e "Leading lawyer appointed judge". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ "Privy Council appointments: November 2014" (Press release). Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 20 November 2014.
- ^ a b Archer, Bimpe. "Judge's police minders 'not in court' during confrontation". The Irish News. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ Erwin, Alan. "Police officer who attempted to arrest senior judge was 'driven by self importance', court heard". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ "Jailed officer refused leave to appeal". BBC News. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ "Civil and Family Justice Review". Jusiciary NI. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ "Lord Justice Gillen's Review of Civil and Family Justice". NICVA. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ Fergus, Lindsay. "Lord Justice Gillen answers our questions". The Detail. Retrieved 25 March 2018.