Henry Mitchell (Irish judge)

Henry Mitchell (c.1320-1384) was an Irish judge of the fourteenth century. He is one of the first recorded holders of the office of Attorney General for Ireland and was subsequently Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer and Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas.[1]

He was born at Killeek, County Dublin, son of John Mitchell.[1] He is recorded as living in England in 1344: he was probably studying law there, as Ireland then had no law school. From 1372 to 1376 he was Attorney General for Ireland,[2] with a salary of £1 and 1 shilling, and authority to practice in the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) and the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland), a common limitation on the Attorney's power at the time.[3] In 1372 he and Roger Hawkenshaw,[4] the Escheator of Ireland, appeared as expert witnesses at a lawsuit in Kilkenny before the Court of King's Bench (Ireland), where Philip Overy claimed possession of certain lands allegedly left to him by Thomas le Botiller.[5]

He sat in the Irish House of Commons in the Parliament of 1375.[6] In the same year he and John FitzRery, the new Escheator of Ireland, were ordered to collect the King's debts.[7] He held office briefly as an ordinary Baron of the Exchequer in 1376,[3] and as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer in 1376-7 and was then transferred to the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland) as its Chief Justice. His predecessor Robert Preston, 1st Baron Gormanston, was removed from office at his own request, "unless the King or Privy Council of Ireland should order otherwise".[2] Preston apparently retired due to advancing age, and was ordered to deliver to his successor all records relating to the office.[2] Mitchell died in 1384.[1]

References
  1. Ball, F Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 John Murray London 1926 Vol.1 p.89
  2. Smyth, Constantine Joseph Chronicle of the Law Officers of Ireland London Butterworths 1839 p.113
  3. Close Roll 51 Edward III
  4. Not to be confused with the later Roger Hawkenshaw, probably his grandson, who was second justice of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland) in 1416-34
  5. Calendar of Ormond Deeds Published Dublin Irish Stationery Office
  6. Hart, A.R. A History of the King's Serjeants at Law in Ireland Four Courts Press 2000 p.17
  7. Close Roll 48 Edward III
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