NWCI welcomes the appointment of Susan Denham

Published: Tuesday, July 19, 2011

The National Womens Council of Ireland warmly welcomes the appointment of the Honourable Susan Gageby Denham as the next Chief Justice of Ireland. This will make her the first woman to hold the position and the 11th Chief Justice in the history of the State.

Born in Dublin, Susan was educated at Alexandra College and Trinity College. She proceeded to attend King's Inn and Columbia University, New York. Called to the bar in 1971, she became a Senior Counsel in 1987. She became the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court in 1992.

She has been involved in many high-profile cases, both as Junior and Senior Counsel, and has a well-earned reputation as someone with a commitment to reform of the judicial system.

She is well-liked among her peers with the common perception being that she maintains a courteous and fair-minded approach to all those with whom she works. Her high-profile cases have often brought her under scrutiny but as a role-model for women in decision-making, she is exemplary.

Although some of her rulings are considered controversial, the NWCI welcomes her appointment. Along with the appointment of Marie Whelan as Ireland's first female Attorney General, it finally seems that women are gate-crashing the upper-echelons of the men's club that is our judiciary system.