Alexander Owens
Irish barrister, High Court judge since 2019
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alexander Owens is an Irish judge who has served as a Judge of the High Court since February 2019. He formerly worked as a barrister with an expertise in criminal law.
Alexander Owens | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the High Court | |
| Assumed office 4 February 2019 | |
| Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
| Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | |
Education
Owens attended Trinity College Dublin where he obtained a BA.[1] He studied to become a barrister at the King's Inns.[2]
Legal career
He was called to the Bar in 1980 and became a senior counsel in 2000.[3] His practice focused on criminal law, and the law of conveyancing, local government and chancery law.[4] He also appeared in cases involving company law and personal injuries.[5][6]
He frequently appeared on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions. He prosecuted criminal trials of a serious nature involving sexual offences, kidnapping, murder, waste offences, and terrorism offences.[7][8][9][10][11] He appeared for the Minister for Justice in an action relating to the publication of the Cloyne Report.[12]
He was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Panel of Enquiry of the University of Dublin in 2004 and subsequently became the chair.[13][1]
Judicial career
Owens was appointed a judge of the High Court in February 2019.[14] He has presided over cases involving extradition, sexual offences, murder, manslaughter, false imprisonment, and the proceeds of crime.[15][16][17][18][19][20] Outside of criminal law he has heard cases involving child law, property, and personal injury law.[21][22]
He became a judge of the Special Criminal Court in July 2019, replacing Aileen Donnelly.[23] He has acted as the presiding judge in that court.[24]
Notable cases he has presided over include the trial of Circuit Court judge Gerard O'Brien in December 2023,[25] and the trial of Conor McGregor in November 2024.[26]