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High Court Judge Addresses Ulster Law Students

23 March 2010

High Court Judge, Mr Justice Weatherup, visited the University of Ulster today to address students and staff in the School of Law.Judge Weatherup presented a lecture examining the area of judicial review to second year undergraduate law students taking the Public Law module at Ulster’s Jordanstown campus.

The lecture also focused on the process of judicial appointments and the role of the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission.Mr Justice Weatherup was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1971 and took Silk in 1993. He served as Junior Crown Counsel for Northern Ireland from 1989 to 1993 and Senior Crown Counsel for Northern Ireland from 1997 to 2001. He was appointed a High Court judge on 4 June 2001. He is a member of the Judicial Studies Board for Northern Ireland and is also a Visitor to the University of Ulster.

Dr Thomas Murphy, Head of the School of Law, said: “Given his role as both a High Court Judge and a member of the North Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission, the visit by Judge Weatherup provides an authoritative insight into the key issues surrounding appointment to the judiciary. It is an honour to have Judge Weatherup visit Ulster and share the benefits of his experience with both staff and students.”Ciaran White, Senior Lecturer in Law, added: “The visit of Mr Justice Weatherup - who presided in the judicial review court for many years - provides an opportunity for Ulster law students to hear directly from a senior judicial figure about recent Northern Ireland judicial review decisions, thereby deepening their understanding of this important aspect of public law.  

"I am delighted that he has agreed to address the students. Staff in the School of Law strive to ensure that students' legal education at Ulster is informed by exposure to real, practical issues and experiences as well to academic ideas and theories, and Mr Justice Weatherup's lecture fits neatly into that mission.”