Applications for post of a Judge of the General Court of the European Union

Ireland will nominate a person to the position of a Judge of the General Court of the European Union to serve, for the remainder of the term of six years which commenced in August 2019. The nomination is subject to a vacancy arising in the General Court following the completion of the process presently in train in the appointment of an Advocate General to replace Advocate General Hogan on his resignation in October 2021.

The government has agreed to establish an expert panel to assist in identifying candidates who are qualified and suitable for the post. The panel will recommend suitable candidates for nomination by the government in accordance with Article 254 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU). Mr Justice Nial Fennelly, a former judge of the Supreme Court and a former Advocate General of the Court of Justice will chair the expert panel which shall also comprise of Attorney General Paul Gallagher, S.C. and Professor Imelda Maher, Sutherland Professor of European Law and Dean of the Law Faculty, UCD.

Applications are invited in confidence from persons possessing the required qualifications as set out in Article 254 TFEU and in the Activity Reports of the Article 255 TFEU Panel, which also contain a description of that Panel’s assessment procedure and the approach to suitability used in its appraisal of candidates. Candidates must have a high level of expertise in the law of the European Union and a good knowledge of written and spoken French. In addition the candidates must be persons whose independence, impartiality, probity and integrity are beyond doubt and must demonstrate an ability to perform the duties of a judge of the General Court including:

• the Candidate’s legal capabilities
• their professional experience
• their ability to perform the duties of a judge
• their language skills
• their ability to work as part of a team in an international environment which several legal systems are represented
• whether their independence, impartiality, probity and integrity are beyond doubt

Information on the terms applicable to the post, the criteria of eligibility and suitability, together with the model format of application/curriculum vitae specified for the purpose of Article 255 TFEU, and relevant reports of the Article 255 TFEU Panel, in particular the Sixth Report, are available below.

Eligible candidates may be invited to attend for interview at the discretion of the panel.

The candidate nominated by Government for the post will be interviewed by the Article 255 TFEU Panel before the representatives of the Member States decide on the appointment.

Completed applications, in the required model format, should be sent by email or post marked ‘Confidential’ no later than 5.30pm to be received on or before Monday 12 July 2021.

Email address is: judgesinfo@justice.ie

Postal address is: Ms. Agne Abbassene, Department of Justice, Civil Governance, Bishop’s Square, Redmond’s Hill, Dublin 2, D02 TD99.

Relevant documents and information are available at the links below: