Garrison native Steven Gerard Keown was one of two recent District Judge appointments mande by the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, Sir Declan Morgan on December 19.

Speaking about his new role, Mr. Keown, who has a wealth of legal experience, said he was "privileged" be appointed as District Judge.

"It is a unique and challenging role and one that I am very much looking forward to. I am also conscious of the responsibility that comes with the job, and the need for me to work hard to ensure I serve the community to the best of my ability. I will be sitting all over Northern Ireland, but, as a native of Garrison, I will especially enjoy the opportunity to return to Fermanagh whenever I can.”

Mr. Keown was admitted to the Law Society of Northern Ireland in 2002 and the Law Society of Ireland in 2015.

He was most recently Managing Director in McCallion Keown Solicitors in Belfast and along with the managerial responsibilities of the role, he was also responsible for case preparation and advocacy in the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court. He was Head of both the Criminal Department and the Family and Matrimonial Department where he oversaw cases in both the Family Proceedings Court and Domestic Proceedings Court.

Prior to establishing his own firm Mr. Keown was a solicitor in Bogue and McNulty Solicitors.

Mr. Keown also holds or has recently held a number of roles including Immediate past Chairperson of the Belfast Solicitors‘ Association, member and treasurer for the Advocacy Working Party, a committee of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, tutor at the Law Society of NI Advanced Advocacy Course, tutor at the Institute of Professional Legal Studies' Solicitor Advocacy Course, Evidence Lecturer and Advocacy Tutor on the Law Society of NI Advanced Advocacy Course.

Speaking about his new role, Mr. Keown, who has a wealth of legal experience, said he was "privileged" be appointed as District Judge.

"It is a unique and challenging role and one that I am very much looking forward to. I am also conscious of the responsibility that comes with the job, and the need for me to work hard to ensure I serve the community to the best of my ability. I will be sitting all over Northern Ireland, but, as a native of Garrison, I will especially enjoy the opportunity to return to Fermanagh whenever I can.”

Mr. Keown's first sitting as District Judge was at Fermanagh Magistrates Court on Wednesday, January 2.