Judge Sean O'Leary operates on the South Western Circuit. A former Fine Gael senator, he has been a judge for five years.
In May 1997 Judge O'Leary was appointed to head the inquiry into the proposed Dublin light rail system. His report on the Luas line between Tallaght and Middle Abbey Street was published in 1998 and recommended it should go ahead, subject to a number of conditions.
Ms O'Rourke asked him to head the inquiry into a line for the north side of the city, because of his "splendid job" on the southside line inquiry.
Last year Judge O'Leary was appointed to the new Courts Service Board to represent the Circuit Court.
