John A. Edwards

John Aloysious Edwards (born 3 January 1960) is an Irish judge who has served as a Judge of the Court of Appeal since November 2014. He previously served as a Judge of the High Court from 2007 to 2014.

Early life Edwards attended Castleknock College until 1978. He attended University College Dublin where he obtained a BCL degree and a Diploma in European Studies. He also attended Trinity College Dublin and received qualifications in arbitration. He trained to be a barrister at King's Inns. He is undertaking a PhD. His practice at the bar was centred on criminal law and judicial review. He frequently appeared for both the Director of Public Prosecutions and defendants in criminal trials, including those involving murder, arson, pornography, fraud, drugs offences, assault, terrorism offences, and sexual offences. He was the State Prosecutor for County Kerry for ten years.

He has held several positions within his role as judge, including membership of the Superior Courts Rules Committee, the European Association of Judges, and the Second Study Commission of the International Association of Judges. He joined the Association of Judges of Ireland at its foundation in 2011 and served a two-year term as president from November 2017.

He is currently one of three members of the Irish panel of Ad hoc judges at the European Court of Human Rights.