Open Court | Chief Justice Frank Clarke

Supreme court justices can often seem remote and mysterious, cloaked by their position and their commitments to impartiality. But recent controversies over judicial behaviour, appointments and independence have reminded us that judges are never removed from the societies they serve. In Poland, Britain, and the United States, supreme courts have found themselves at the centre of bitter political conflicts, while the enforcement of lockdowns and quarantines have made us all think more about the importance of the courts in upholding the rule of law and protecting our liberties. After a year in which our supreme court came under perhaps unprecedented public scrutiny, it seems more important than ever for us to learn more about its judges. At Ireland’s Edge, Dr David Kenny, Associate Professor of Law at Trinity College Dublin, speaks to the Chief Justice of Ireland Mr Frank Clarke.