Judges call for return to pre-2011 usher system

Judges above District Court level were assigned ushers until 2011, when budget cuts meant that newly appointed judges had judicial assistants assigned to them instead.

An usher - normally a retired gardaí or soldier - would keep the judge’s diary, fetch their lunch, drive their car, ferry litigants into court and call “all rise” when the judge enters the courtroom.

Judicial assistants, who are normally law graduates, are expected to fulfil those duties as well as helping with the judge’s legal research.

However, a number of judges have told The Irish Times that they are dissatisfied with their assistants. Circuit Court judges, who often travel, complain that a driving license is not part of the job specification, and other judges are unhappy with their assistants’ qualifications.

Four judges have now requested an usher instead of an assistant.