The Government has agreed to nominate well-known criminal defence solicitor Shalom Binchy to the District Court.

The District Court vacancy arises following the retirement of Judge Brian J Sheridan on 22 March.

Shalom Binchy is a BCL graduate of University College Dublin (1993) and qualified as a solicitor in 1996.

She has been a member of the Policing Authority since 2021.

Shalom Binchy is also a member of the Law Society Human Rights and Equality Committee since 2020, and is a former member of the Law Society Criminal Law Committee.

She founded Shalom Binchy & Co. Solicitors in 2002 and practised extensively in criminal defence work.

In 2018, the firm was named the Irish Law Award Criminal Law Firm of the year.

Mental-health law

Shalom Binchy has also practised in mental health law. 

Shalom has worked closely with DCU and other universities to develop and deliver specialised training for lawyers advising clients arrested for questioning under the Supralat programme. 

Solicitor Gary Lee (chair of the Human Rights and Equality Committee) said “The Human Rights and Equality Committee would like to congratulate our member, Shalom Binchy, on her nomination as District Court judge."

Active member

"Shalom has been a truly active member on the Committee over the past few years bringing many issues to the forefront, particularly within the criminal justice system, that have direct implications on the rights of court users.

"The Committee feels privileged to have had the opportunity to work closely with Shalom and wish her the best in her judicial role," he said.