A civilian solicitor has been appointed as the new military judge for the Defence Forces.
Michael Campion will become a Colonel in the Permanent Defence Force when he takes up the post in September.
Mr Campion is currently a Captain in Reserve Defence Force and is the son of former international showjumper Col Ned Campion.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said Mr Campion is the first military judge to be appointed following an open competition run by the Public Appointments Service.
Prior to 2011, the post of military judge was only open to qualified officers with the Permanent Defence Force.
Mr Shatter said the appointment represents a major milestone in the modernization of the military justice system.
Mr Campion was enrolled as a Solicitor in 1986 and has conducted a wide ranging legal practice based in Dublin.
He qualified for admission to the New York Bar in 1989 and also holds a post graduate diploma in European Law.
Since 2006 he has served as a chairperson of the Mental Health Tribunal and was also previously a member of the Criminal Legal Aid Panel.
The main function of the military judge is to preside at courts martial.
Previous military judge Col Anthony McCourt retired in July 2010.
No courts martial have taken place since his retirement up to the appointment of Judge John D O'Hagan, who was temporarily designated to perform the functions of a military judge.
A backlog of about two dozen cases has built up over the past two years.
