Sir Charles Declan Morgan (born 14 January 1951) is a senior judge from Northern Ireland. He served as Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland from 2009 to 2021 and was appointed to the supplementary panel of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in September 2021. In May 2024, he became chief commissioner of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).
Early Life and Education
Morgan was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, and educated at St Columb's College in Derry. He studied at Peterhouse, Cambridge, and Queen's University, Belfast.
Legal Career
Morgan was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1976 and became a Queen's Counsel in 1994. Between 2002 and 2004, he served as Senior Crown Counsel for Northern Ireland. He also served as Judge-In-Residence at the School of Law of Queen's University Belfast.
Judicial Career
In 2004, Morgan was appointed a judge of the High Court and knighted. He became Chairman of the Law Reform Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland that same year and, in 2007, was appointed Chairman of the Northern Ireland Law Commission. In 2007, he was appointed to the Family Division of the Court, and in 2008 moved to hearing cases for judicial review.
On 18 June 2009, it was announced that Morgan would succeed Sir Brian Kerr as Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland. He was sworn into office on 3 July 2009. On 10 February 2010, he was sworn into Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council. He retired as Lord Chief Justice in June 2021 and was appointed to the supplementary panel of the Supreme Court in September 2021.
Later Career
In May 2024, Morgan became chief commissioner of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), a body established to address legacy issues arising from the Northern Ireland Troubles.
Personal Life
Sir Declan Morgan is married with three children.
