'Wise heads will prevail': New Cork judge calls for resolution as solicitors quit legal aid panel

New Cork District Court judge declines to enter legal aid dispute but hopes negotiations will deliver a realistic solution

Cork District Court on Anglesea Street. File picture: David Creedon

Judge David Waters took up his new position as a judge of Cork District Court by expressing the hope that "wise heads will prevail" in the dispute with the justice minister over changes to the criminal legal aid scheme, which prompted Cork solicitors to resign from the panel en masse on Tuesday.

“Thank you for the words of welcome. I think I know virtually every single practitioner by first name,” Judge Waters said.