Meet Justice Gerard Hogan, whom we are thrilled to welcome as the Guest Judge for our Creative Writing on Justice Competition for teenagers this October 2026! He holds law degrees from University College Dublin, the University of Pennsylvania, the Hon. Society of King’s Inns, and Trinity College Dublin, and has served as a judge of the Irish Supreme Court since 2021.
We asked him about the art of justice writing, his work in human rights and advocacy, and his standards for a winning entry. Here we impart his words of advice to you, dear writer!
Write the World creates a space for young writers from many different countries. Each writer brings their own culture, customs, and experiences with them. Amidst this diversity, what do you think exists at the core of every human society? What universal values can writers tap into as they seek to write a meaningful and relatable story?
Despite our endless diversity, human beings all over the world have the same needs and desires. Most of all, we want to provide for ourselves and our families; to pursue our own life the way we want to; and to find self-fulfillment, happiness, and peace of mind.
All societies have their own ethical and moral values, often drawn from community, secular and religious sources. The challenge is to draw on these sources while endeavoring to shape a world that is fairer and more just for all of humanity. But remember that we live in a world of limited resources and we need human ingenuity, effort and hard work to ensure that all can share in the beauty and bounty of the world.
Your legal career has spanned over four decades. You’re one of the foremost experts in constitutional law; you’ve lectured students at Trinity College in Dublin, and you currently serve as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland. When did you decide you would practice law? What words of advice would you offer to your younger self, given the perspective you have today?
I cannot recall exactly how I decided to study law, but I recall, as a teenager, coming across a copy of the Irish Constitution of 1937 and reading it with great interest. At the same time, there was a story in our English school textbook about the Boston childhood of Oliver Wendell Holmes. I can still remember how the textbook told us that Holmes went on to be the greatest judge ever to sit on the US Supreme Court and how he protected the right of free speech and personal liberty. That story left a deep impression on me.
Then, on my first day as a law student at University College Dublin in October 1976, I purchased a second-hand copy of a criminal law textbook. I was so engrossed in reading it on the bus on my way home that I missed my stop. I was lucky to fall in love with what I think is an endlessly fascinating subject.
Studying law may not be for everyone. But one way or another, it is important to develop your critical skills; to keep your sense of intellectual independence; to be tolerant and respectful of others and, above all, to cherish free speech and human liberty. Note to younger self: please do not overlook other important human pursuits, such as the arts, sports, politics, literature, language and history. Develop a historical perspective, because law is also about understanding why things happened at a particular time. Keep up your public speaking and writing skills – key attributes of any future lawyer.
The young writers on our site are very concerned with human rights, advocacy, and social justice. In an interview with The University Times in 2021, you encouraged young people to “take pride in the democratic institutions of the state, and strive to make them better.” What are some of the most effective and productive ways you’ve seen young people engage with institutions and the state?
Those comments were designed to counteract the relentless negativity and cynicism that, unfortunately, are so common in Irish society and, I am sure, in so many other societies. Despite the horrors of war, hunger and the denial of human freedoms, humanity has nonetheless achieved a great deal. I was lucky to have been born into a state which, despite its many injustices and imperfections, has a strong democratic and rule-of-law tradition, and one that has made great social and economic advances in the course of my own lifetime.
Your own circumstances are probably very different to mine. Yet I would urge you to strive to see the best in your own country and its citizens. Be proud of your own native traditions and culture, while remaining open and respectful of others. So you can take your first steps to making the world better by engaging with your own community, such as by volunteering, engaging in student journalism, and public speaking. Above all – be optimistic and positive about what can be achieved to advance the cause of human liberty.
In our uncertain time of artificial intelligence, censorship, conflict, and political unrest, why is it important to continue writing and telling stories?
Stories allow us to see the world through other people's eyes. Long before we meet someone from another culture or country, we often encounter them first through books and stories. Certainly, as a young boy, I avidly read the stories of young people in other countries all over the world. It prompted me to learn about those countries, their peoples, and their experiences. And as I grew older I realised that human knowledge and development is based on the history of ideas. Communication through writing is the way that ideas are exchanged and communicated, and that is why it is important to continue writing and telling stories.
In the context of justice and law, communication through writing is essential for the development of legal ideas and the fair and just resolution of human disputes. Writing and telling stories is, in addition, often the way that we learn from others and show respect and tolerance to others who sometimes have profoundly different worldviews. We all have a lot to learn from each other.
What are you looking for in a winning entry? Do you have any other advice for the writers, especially those who are new to writing about justice and human rights?
I have a completely open mind, and I am really looking forward to reading the submissions. If you are new to writing about justice and human rights, you may wish to consult school textbooks dealing with civics, political society, history, constitutions and justice themes for ideas. But pay attention to other important matters – a sense of good writing, rhythm, grammar, presentation and, above all, balance, tolerance and moderation are also important for those who wish to argue for change.
So, for the winning entry, I will be looking for originality, imagination, clarity of thought, and authenticity on the part of contributors, while also maintaining a sense of realism and coherence.