Judge Síofra O’Leary takes up presidency of European Court of Human Rights

Judge Síofra O'Leary takes up presidency of European Court of Human Rights

Judge Síofra O'Leary

Judge Síofra O’Leary has formally taken up the presidency of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

The first woman and the first Irish person to serve as president of the court in its 63-year history, she will serve for an initial two-year term until 2024.

Human rights campaigners and legal experts previously told our sister publication Irish Legal News that they would welcome the Dublin-born judge’s potential appointment to the prominent role as a boost to the court as well as to Ireland’s international reputation.

A graduate of University College Dublin with a PhD from the European University Institute in Florence, Judge O’Leary spent years lecturing on EU law at a number of universities prior to her appointment as an ECtHR judge in 2015.

She was appointed vice-president of the court in January 2022.

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