A century of courts

The Courts of Justice Act, 1924

Niamh Howlin, editor

“Professor Niamh Howlin is to be congratulated on assembling a notably distinguished collection of authors, each of whom has produced remarkably innovative chapters. Each contains an abundance of knowledge about the establishment of the new court system in 1924 and the ensuing consequences for our contemporary, world-class system of court-administered justice.” Max Barrett, Irish Judicial Studies Journal, Volume 9.

“The unassuming title of this book belies its significance. This is a very important and revealing work of historical analysis and present-day commentary. At first sight, the very idea of celebrating the centenary of the enactment of a statute might seem unusual. But the Courts of Justice Act 1924 was no ordinary legislation. The aim of this statute was to give concrete effect to an independent judiciary, one of the essential pillars of a democracy in a newly independent Ireland … it has received a fitting commemoration in this wonderful book which, doubtless, will be given the wide readership it so richly merits.” John MacMenamin (Judge of the High Court (2004-2012) and Supreme Court (2012-2022)). The Irish Jurist 2025, 73.