Circuit Court judge can only be removed by impeachment

THE starting point for any analysis of events in Tralee Circuit Court yesterday must be a reiteration of the fact that Judge Brian Curtin went into court this week enjoying a presumption of innocence and he came out of the courtroom yesterday afternoon with his innocence unimpugned in any way in law.

The jury was directed by the trial judge to bring a non-guilty verdict. The assignment of an individual judge to hear cases is ultimately an administrative arrangement overseen by the president of the Circuit Court.

Since Operation Amethyst in May 2002, Judge Curtin, although continuing to be a member of the Circuit Court, has not sat in any court or heard any cases. Notwithstanding the outcome of yesterday’s hearing it can be expected that this arrangement will stay in place, at least until next September.