WRC dismisses Olumide Smith’s complaint against Judge Catherine Murphy

The WRC dismissed Olumide Smith’s Equal Status complaint against Her Honour Judge Catherine Murphy as misconceived and found it had no jurisdiction to investigate or adjudicate it; the merits were not decided. Smith alleged race-based harassment, discrimination and victimisation during Circuit Court proceedings. The Courts Service said judges are constitutional judicial office holders and that court proceedings were not a service under the Equal Status Act. The decision was dated 7 October 2021. The adjudicator found judicial decision-making was not a service under the Act and that a judge was immune from suit for that function.