Irish judge resigns from Dubai Courts a few days after his appointment
Former Chief of the Supreme Court of Ireland Frank Clark resigned from his position as a judge in the DIFC Courts just days after his appointment.
Informed sources told Emirates Leaks that Clark submitted his resignation after learning about the dire situation of the judiciary in the Emirates and the extent of security interference in his rulings.
The sources indicated that Clark had received a torrent of criticism from European and international human rights organizations for accepting to work in the Dubai judiciary in light of the UAE’s black human rights record.
The appointed legal Reform Commission head was sworn in as a court judge earlier last week, along with former Chief Justice Peter Kelly.
In a statement, Clark said: “Ireland and many Irish companies do important business in and with Dubai, and in this context, it is important to have an independent and reliable dispute resolution system available to those companies.”
However, he said he was concerned that the controversy over his role in Dubai “could affect the important work of the Law Reform Commission, which I am committed to”.
As a result, he said he submitted his “resignation from his position as a judge in the DIFC Courts to the Chief Justice of that Court” on Sunday.
Clark and Kelly were among four judges sworn in in a virtual ceremony last Tuesday in front of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai.
The courts are located in the Dubai International Financial Center in the United Arab Emirates.
It was established in 2004 to administer common law and English language jurisdiction, regulate commercial and civil disputes worldwide, and cater to international institutions operating in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.
Clark retired as chief justice in October, and the government announced his appointment as chair of the Law Reform Commission on July 12 for a five-year term.
Evidence gathers about the miserable state of the judiciary in the UAE, and human rights organizations confirm that it is in the pocket of the system without regard to law and justice.
The Emirati regime uses the judiciary to pass its policies based on crushing dissent and freedoms and severe punishment for any public expression of opinion attempts.
The International Center for Justice and Human Rights affirms that “the judiciary that responds to the dictates of the authorities and not the law and human rights charters is a partner in the violations that affected activists in the UAE, which led to unfair trials and harsh sentences ranging between 10 and 15 years.”
