Maurice Collins (judge)
{{short description|Irish judge}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = The Hon. Mr. Justice
| image = Maurice Collins, May 2024 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Collins in 2024
| office = Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland
| term_start = 29 November 2022
| term_end =
| nominator = Government of Ireland
| appointer = Michael D. Higgins
| office1 = Judge of the Court of Appeal
| term_start1 = 4 November 2019
| term_end1 = 29 November 2022
| nominator1 = Government of Ireland
| appointer1 = Michael D. Higgins
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Cork, Ireland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Irish
| spouse = Nora Rice
| children =
| relations = Michael Collins (Granduncle)
| alma_mater = {{Ubl|University College Cork|King's Inns}}
|}}
Maurice Gerard Collins{{cite news |title=Applicant for leave to review planning decision mustshow substantial grounds and substantial interest |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/applicant-for-leave-to-review-planning-decision-mustshow-substantial-grounds-and-substantial-interest-1.1204723 |access-date=28 November 2022 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}} is an Irish judge and lawyer who has served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland since November 2022. He previously served as a Judge of the Court of Appeal from 2019 to 2022.
Early life
Collins is from Clonakilty in County Cork. He is the grandnephew of Michael Collins. He completed a BA in English Literature and Philosophy at University College Cork and later attended the King's Inns.{{cite news |title=Clonakilty's Maurice is one of seven new judges |url=https://www.southernstar.ie/news/clonakiltys-maurice-is-one-of-seven-new-judges-4180923 |accessdate=20 May 2020 |work=The Southern Star |language=en |archive-date=5 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805015709/https://www.southernstar.ie/news/clonakiltys-maurice-is-one-of-seven-new-judges-4180923 |url-status=live }}
Legal career
He was called to the Bar in 1989 and became a senior counsel in 2003.{{cite web |title=Appointments to the Court of Appeal |url=http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PR19000252 |website=www.justice.ie |date=11 October 2019 |accessdate=20 May 2020 |language=en |archive-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217193051/http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PR19000252 |url-status=live }} He is a former chair of the Incorporated Council for Law Reporting and became a bencher of the King's Inns in 2017.
Collins had a broad practice while at the bar. He frequently represented the State in public law matters. He appeared for the State in a challenge taken by Brian Mohan to the constitutionality of parliamentary gender quota legislation and an action initiated by Jolyon Maugham to try to prevent Brexit through the High Court.{{cite news |title=Court reserves judgement on challenge to link between political funding and gender quotas |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/court-reserves-judgement-on-challenge-to-link-between-political-funding-and-gender-quotas-799364.html |accessdate=20 May 2020 |work=www.irishexaminer.com |date=25 July 2017 |language=en |archive-date=23 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171123231357/http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/court-reserves-judgement-on-challenge-to-link-between-political-funding-and-gender-quotas-799364.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Legal challenge to Brexit struck out |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/legal-challenge-to-brexit-struck-out-791620.html |accessdate=20 May 2020 |work=www.irishexaminer.com |date=29 May 2017 |language=en |archive-date=21 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121013526/http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/legal-challenge-to-brexit-struck-out-791620.html |url-status=live }}
His practice included commercial matters and disputes. He represented parties opposite Rory McIlroy and Dunnes Stores.{{cite news |title=Claim that Wozniacki told McIlroy that UNICEF donation was "stupid" - News |url=https://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2014/12/21/claim-that-wozniacki-told-mcilroy-that-unicef-donation-was-stupid |accessdate=20 May 2020 |work=Irish Golf Desk |language=en-IE |archive-date=25 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160425080513/http://www.irishgolfdesk.com/news-files/2014/12/21/claim-that-wozniacki-told-mcilroy-that-unicef-donation-was-stupid |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Dunnes Stores winding up order withdrawn |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2012/1214/358940-dunnes-stores-winding-up-order-withdrawn/ |accessdate=20 May 2020 |work=RTÉ News |date=14 December 2012 |language=en |archive-date=12 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112131107/http://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2012/1214/358940-dunnes-stores-winding-up-order-withdrawn/ |url-status=live }} He also appeared in actions involving medical negligence.{{cite news |last1=Traynor |first1=Vivienne |title=I expected nausea not narcolepsy, father tells court |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2019/1018/1084329-narcolepsy-bennett-court/ |accessdate=20 May 2020 |work=RTÉ News |date=18 October 2019 |language=en |archive-date=28 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928222232/https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2019/1018/1084329-narcolepsy-bennett-court/ |url-status=live }}
He appeared for Ireland in 2019 in the EU's General Court in appeal to the European Commission's decision arising from the EU illegal State aid case against Apple in Ireland.{{cite news |last1=Brennan |first1=Joe |title=Ireland set for courtroom showdown over €13bn Apple tax case |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/ireland-set-for-courtroom-showdown-over-13bn-apple-tax-case-1.4019966 |accessdate=20 May 2020 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en |archive-date=31 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231105600/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/ireland-set-for-courtroom-showdown-over-13bn-apple-tax-case-1.4019966 |url-status=live }}
Judicial career
= Court of Appeal =
He became a Judge of the Court of Appeal in November 2019.{{cite web |title=Diary President Appoints Judges To The Court Of Appeal |url=https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-appoints-judges-to-the-court-of-appeal |website=president.ie |accessdate=7 May 2020 |language=en |archive-date=3 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203192607/https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-appoints-judges-to-the-court-of-appeal |url-status=live }} His appointment arose out of a vacancy was created due to the retirement of Michael Peart.{{cite news |title=First solicitor appointed to the High Court retires after 17 years on the bench |url=https://www.irishlegal.com/article/first-solicitor-appointed-to-the-high-court-retires-after-17-years-on-the-bench |accessdate=20 May 2020 |work=Irish Legal News |language=en |archive-date=8 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208204529/https://www.irishlegal.com/article/first-solicitor-appointed-to-the-high-court-retires-after-17-years-on-the-bench |url-status=live }}
= Law Reform Commission =
Collins was appointed to the Law Reform Commission as a part-time commissioner for a five-year term in October 2020.{{cite news |title=Three commissioners appointed to LRC |url=https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/three-commissioners-appointed-to-lrc/ |accessdate=7 October 2020 |work=www.lawsociety.ie |archive-date=1 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201231802/https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/three-commissioners-appointed-to-lrc/ |url-status=live }}
= Supreme Court =
Collins was nominated and appointed to the Supreme Court of Ireland in November 2022.{{cite news |title=Mr Justice Maurice Collins appointed to Supreme Court |url=https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/2022/november/mr-justice-maurice-collins-appointed-to-supreme-court |access-date=2 November 2022 |work=www.lawsociety.ie}}{{cite news |title=Courts Service set to receive additional resources for new High Court division |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2022/11/02/courts-service-set-to-receive-additional-resources-for-new-high-court-division/ |access-date=2 November 2022 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=2 November 2022 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Diary President Appoints Judges To The Supreme Court And The High Court 29 11 22 |url=https://president.ie/en/diary/details/president-appoints-judges-to-the-supreme-court-and-the-high-court-29-11-22 |website=president.ie |access-date=29 November 2022 |language=en}}
Personal life
He is married to Nora Rice. They are patrons of the National Gallery of Ireland.{{cite web |title=Current Patrons |url=https://www.nationalgallery.ie/current-patrons-irish-art |website=National Gallery of Ireland |accessdate=20 May 2020 |language=en |archive-date=15 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715153733/https://www.nationalgallery.ie/current-patrons-irish-art |url-status=live }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Judges of the Supreme Court of Ireland}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Collins, Maurice}}
Category:Alumni of University College Cork
Category:Judges of the Court of Appeal (Ireland)
Category:Judges of the Supreme Court of Ireland
Category:21st-century Irish judges
Category:Alumni of King's Inns
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:People from Clonakilty
Category:Lawyers from County Cork