Raymond Groarke (born 1952) is a retired Irish judge who served as President of the Circuit Court from 2012 to 2019 and a Judge of the Circuit Court from 1996 to 2022.[1]

Raymond Groarke
President of the Circuit Court
In office
20 July 2012 – 12 July 2019
Nominated byGovernment of Ireland
Appointed byMichael D. Higgins
Preceded byMatthew Deery
Succeeded byPatricia Ryan
Judge of the Circuit Court
In office
29 January 1996 – 10 January 2022
Nominated byGovernment of Ireland
Appointed byMary Robinson
Personal details
Born1952 (age 71–72)
NationalityIrish
EducationClongowes Wood College
Alma mater

Early life

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Groarke was born in 1952. He was educated at Clongowes Wood College, University College Dublin and the King's Inns.[2] He was called to the Bar in 1973.[3] He practiced as a barrister, predominantly on the Midlands circuit.[2][3]

Judicial career

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Circuit Court

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In 1996, he was appointed a judge of the Circuit Court.[3] He was assigned to the Eastern Circuit between 1998 and 2005, before moving to the Western Circuit.[2]

Following the end of his term as president, he returned to sit as an ordinary Circuit Court judge in County Galway and County Mayo for the Western Circuit.[4]

President of the Circuit Court

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He was appointed President of the Circuit Court in 2012.[1] As President of the Circuit Court and through the remainder of his term as an ordinary judge, he was an Ex officio member of the High Court.[5]

His term concluded in July 2019. He was succeeded by Patricia Ryan.[6]

Retirement

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His final day as a judge was 10 January 2022.[7]

Personal life

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Groarke is married to Joan.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "New Presidents nominated for the Circuit and District Courts". Irish Government New Service www.merrionstreet.ie. 12 June 2012. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "Longford Judge appointed to top position". Longford Leader. 26 June 2012. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Cleary, Catherine (20 November 1996). "A tale of two solicitors: a young woman and a Longford friend of 23 years". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Legal eagles cut loose as court presidency handed over". Irish Examiner. 13 July 2019. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
  5. ^ "The Judges". Courts.ie. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  6. ^ a b Managh, Ray (15 July 2019). "Singing and thumping in civil court as tributes paid to Justice Groarke". The Irish Times. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Former Circuit Court President to retire". www.lawsociety.ie. Retrieved 9 January 2022.