Judge fights on as last man standing
SUPPORT is declining for Justice Séamus Woulfe over his apparent determination to ‘dig in and fight’ for his Supreme Court position.
This is informed by the reported decision of Mr Woulfe to retain barrister Michael Collins SC, to fight his case and to seek advice from the former attorney general, John Rogers.
Mr Rogers represented the former Circuit Court judge Brian Curtin in his dispute with the Government over its attempts to impeach him between 2004 and 2006.
A senior legal source warned: ‘This is absolutely not the image we want to portray. A judge digging in will increase the possibilities of a hugely destructive public row amongst ourselves and between the public, politicians and the courts.’
They added: ‘This will not be good news for Séamus. The problem with weak governments is that they feel a constant need to sack people to appease their unhappy voters.’
The legal figure predicted: ‘On that issue, if there is a public fury on Liveline for three days, Séamus will be in trouble.’
Mr Woulfe’s new hard-line positioning is believed to be informed by concerns that he is walking into ‘an elegant trap’. The unease has been heightened by hints that the review into Judge Woulfe’s attendance at a golf dinner with politicians – many of whom resigned their posts having flouted Covid-19 guidelines – by former Chief Justice Susan Denham will be framed by international guidelines on judicial conduct. One source noted: ‘Séamus was originally supposed to be going in for a chat and a cup of tea. This is far more extensive.’
One legal source noted: ‘In our case, Woulfe’s difficulty has nothing to do with the politicians. His threat comes from the judges.’ They added: ‘If the “My Lords” get uneasy the net will start to tighten.’
One politician warned: ‘If the retired judge proves Séamus has brought the administration of justice into disrepute it would be difficult for Séamus.’
Some friends of Justice Woulfe also expressed concern.
One source noted: ‘Woulfie is last man standing and dangerously detached from the herd.
‘No one will die in a ditch for him politically unless the public go bonkers again. But if that happens and he becomes an embarrassment to the M’Lords, they’ll cut him loose.’