Marie Baker

For the poet and author, see Marie Annharte Baker.

• University College Cork
• King's Inns

Marie Baker
Baker in 2014
Judge of the Supreme Court
In office 2 December 2019 –15 April 2024 [1]

Marie Baker (born 6 February 1954) is an Irish judge who served as a Judge of the Supreme Court from 2019 to 2024, a Judge of the Court of Appeal from 2018 to 2019, and a Judge of the High Court from 2014 to 2018.

Early career

Baker was educated at University College Cork, where she received BA, MA and BCL degrees. ^[2] She later attended and studied at the King's Inns and became a barrister in 1984 and a senior counsel in 2004. ^[3] Her practice predominantly focused on commercial law, conveyancing, family law and litigation. ^[3] She specialised on cases involving the National Asset Management Agency towards the end of her career as a barrister. ^[4] She was a member of the Study Group on Pre-nuptial Agreements, which reported to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in 2007. ^[5] She has previously acted as a part-time commissioner of the Law Reform Commission and lectured in several areas of law. ^[6]

Judicial career

High Court

She was appointed to the High Court in January 2014. ^[7] She sat in on a three-judge division of the High Court in December 2014 in the case of PP v. HSE . ^[8]

Court of Appeal

Baker was elevated to the Court of Appeal in June 2018. ^[9] She holds a statutory position as the designated judge for the purpose of two acts: the Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act 1993 and the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011. In this role she produces an annual report for the Oireachtas. ^[10] She also communicates with the Taoiseach in relation to privacy and interception of communications issues. ^[11]

Supreme Court

She was appointed to the Supreme Court in December 2019. ^[12] Her appointment followed the retirement of Susan Denham in 2018. ^[13] Her first sitting on the court occurred on 16 January 2020, marking the first time four women had sat together on the Supreme Court. ^[14]

Baker is the Assigned Judge for the Irish courts to supervise the use of personal data while courts act in their judicial capacity. ^[15]

Electoral Commission

Baker also serves as chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ireland. Chief Justice Donal O'Donnell appointed her to that position when the commission was established in 2023. ^[16]

References

1. "Tribute to Ms Justice Marie Baker" (PDF).
2. "Who's Who in Law". UCC School of Law. Archived from the original on 23 June 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
3. "Appointments to the High Court". Irish Government News Service. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
4. Sheehy, Clodagh (9 January 2014). "Court in succession: Family affair at Aras as judges appointed". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
5. "Report of Study Group on Pre-nuptial Agreements Published". Department of Justice and Equality. Archived from the original on 19 October 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
6. Bohan, Christine (8 January 2014). "Here are the three new judges appointed to the High Court today". TheJournal.ie. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
7. "President Appoints Judges of the High Court". President.ie. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
8. Baker, Noel; Managh, Ray (23 December 2014). "Unborn baby gets barrister for court battle". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
9. "President appoints new Judges". President.ie. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
10. "Ms Justice Baker calls for urgent revision of data retention laws". Irish Legal News. 22 October 2018. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
11. "Interception of Postal Packets and Telecommunications Messages (Regulation) Act, 1993". Irish Statute Book. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
12. "Diary President Appoints Judges To The Supreme Court And The High Court Dec 2019". president.ie. Office of the President of Ireland. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
13. "Judges nominated for appointment to Supreme, Circuit and District Courts". Law Society Gazette. 27 November 2019. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
14. "Supreme Court sits with four women judges in landmark moment". Irish Legal News. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
15. "Data Protection Complaints Procedure". Courts.ie. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
16. "Members of the Commission". The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 4 November 2023.