Northern Ireland names next Lord Chief Justice

Sir Brian Kerr was today appointed as Northern Ireland’s next Lord Chief Justice.

He will take charge of Northern Ireland’s courts in the New Year from Sir Robert Carswell.

Sir Robert has been appointed as a Lord of Appeal and will make way for the new Lord Chief Justice on January 12.

Sir Brian, a High Court judge since 1993, said he was deeply honoured to take over from Sir Robert Carswell.

He said: “There will be many challenges ahead but I look forward to meeting these with the help of all my colleagues at the various judicial tiers.

“The justice system is in a period of considerable change. As judges we recognise that we must play our part in the implementation of those changes.

“For instance we will be participating in the establishment of a new Judicial Appointments Commission and will be dealing with the many legislative initiatives that will have an impact on the work of the courts.

“I am confident that the judiciary will rise to the challenge that these changes present while continuing to manage the ongoing and significant workload undertaken in courts at every level.”

Mr Justice Kerr was educated at St Colman's College in the border town of Newry and at Queen's University in Belfast.

He was called to the Bar in Northern Ireland in 1970 and in England in 1974.

He took silk in Northern Ireland in 1983 and was appointed a Senior Crown Counsel five years later.

In 1993, he was appointed a High Court Judge and has presided over many controversial hearings.

These have included a bail application for a man accused of killing Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane and a legal challenge by the Rev Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionists to the election of First and Deputy First Ministers during the last Assembly.