About the Journal

Background

The Judicial Studies Institute Journal (JSI Journal) is a learned legal publication produced under the aegis of the Judicial Studies Institute (JSI), a body established pursuant to section 19 of the Court and Court Officers Act, 1995 to organise the ongoing training and education of judges in Ireland.

Established in 2001, the JSI Journal is aimed primarily at the Irish judiciary and is published on a bi-annual basis. The Journal was originally published in volumes; each containing two editions published six months apart. While the Journal is still published on a bi-annual basis, editions are not produced in volumes but identified by the year of their publication e.g. 2008 No. 2 and 2009 No. 1.

Mission Statement

The primary purpose of the Journal is to provide Irish judges with information and opinions that are relevant and useful to them in their work. It recognises that judges work not simply in a context of black-letter law but in a wider human, social and economic milieu. It also recognises that judges of different courts, or even of the same court, may have different experiences, interests and needs.

It therefore publishes articles dealing with substantive law, forthcoming changes in the law and the results of research into areas such as sentencing and family law. It seeks particularly to illuminate the judicial process, considering topics such as ethics, decision-making and support services. While aware of individual and general sensitivities, it does publish controversial articles and indeed encourages authors, particularly judges, to express opinions on topics of particular interest to them. It also publishes reviews of books of interest to judges, and generally seeks to have these reviews written by judges.

The sources for articles include judges, practitioners, academics and also non-lawyers. A principal source of material is the papers given at the Judicial Studies Institute’s various seminars and conferences. While seeking to avoid duplication with other such periodicals, the Journal re-prints articles of particular merit that have already been published elsewhere. The Journal particularly seeks to obtain articles from other jurisdictions. The Journal also requests articles where they are needed.

Editorial Structure

Editorial Board
The Hon. Mr. Justice William McKechnie
His Honour Judge Donagh McDonagh
Judge David Riordan

Secretary
Lisa Maybury

General Editor
Steve Hedley

Editorial Committee
Fiona de Londras
Steve Hedley
Shane Kilcommins
Owen McIntyre
Conor O'Mahony

Copy Editors
Verona Ní Dhrisceoil
John Danaher

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