Marie Baker (born 6 February 1954) is an Irish judge who has served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland since December 2019. She previously served as a Judge of the High Court from 2014 to 2018 and a Judge of the Court of Appeal from 2018 to 2019.
Marie Baker | |
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Judge of the Supreme Court of Ireland | |
Assumed office 2 December 2019 | |
Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
Judge of the Court of Appeal | |
In office 28 June 2018 – 2 December 2019 | |
Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
Judge of the High Court | |
In office 8 January 2014 – 28 June 2018 | |
Nominated by | Government of Ireland |
Appointed by | Michael D. Higgins |
Personal details | |
Born | Dublin, Ireland | 6 February 1954
Alma mater | |
Baker was educated at University College Cork, where she received BA, MA and BCL degrees.[1] She later attended and studied at the King's Inns and became a barrister in 1984 and a senior counsel in 2004.[2] Her practice predominantly focused on commercial law, conveyancing, family law and litigation.[2] She specialised on cases involving the National Asset Management Agency towards the end of her career as a barrister.[3] 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.[4] She has previously acted as a part-time commissioner of the Law Reform Commission and lectured in several areas of law.[5]
She was appointed to the High Court in January 2014.[6] She sat in on a three-judge division of the High Court in December 2014 in the case of PP v. HSE.[7]
Baker was elevated to the Court of Appeal in June 2018.[8] 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.[9] She also communicates with the Taoiseach in relation to privacy and interception of communications issues.[10]
She was appointed to the Supreme Court in December 2019.[11] Her appointment followed the retirement of Susan Denham in 2018.[12] Her first sitting on the court occurred on 16 January 2020, marking the first time four women had sat together on the Supreme Court.[13]
Baker is the Assigned Judge for the Irish courts for the purpose of supervising the use of personal data while courts act in their judicial capacity.[14]
Baker also serves as chairpeson of the Electoral Commission of Ireland. She was appointed to that position by Chief Justice Donal O'Donnell when the commission was established in 2023.[15]