John Keating (judge)

Keating graduated from Trinity College Dublin in 1655 and entered Lincoln's Inn in 1657;[2] it was said that his knowledge of the law was well below that of his fellow students, although his friends attributed his ignorance to the neglect of his legal studies, his time being taken up with his courtship of the widowed Grace, Lady Shuckburgh, whom he married in 1659.

[2] This job involved a great deal of travel between Dublin and London, and Keating displayed impressive energy in performing his duties, on one occasion completing the return journey in twelve days in the depth of winter, for which task he was paid £200.

Keating was content for the time being with the minor position of Attorney General to the Duke of York; he admitted that he could not afford financially to give up his practice at the Irish Bar, and in addition said that he did not wish to arouse the envy of his older colleagues.

[2] Given Keating's previous reluctance to accept a seat on the High Court Bench, his appointment as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in 1679, when he had no judicial experience other than as a palatine judge in Tipperary, may seem surprising.

It is likely, as Elrington Ball suggests,[2] that Charles II chose Keating precisely because his well-known tolerance in matters of religion meant that he was unlikely to succumb to the prevailing anti-Catholic mood.

[2] During James II's first year in Ireland, Keating showed himself to be a staunch loyalist, praying publicly for the King and referring to the Glorious Revolution as an "invasion".

He could not seriously have expected to be allowed to keep his office, yet he undoubtedly made friendly advances to the new administration, possibly with the help of his brother-in-law Colonel Cusack, who played a part in negotiating the Treaty of Limerick.

The more critical among them, like Elrington Ball, have accused him of clinging to office in an undignified manner, and the Cavenagh case shows that he could be merciless enough when he thought there was a danger of a felon escaping justice.

This great man was calm, patient and humane in the trial of prisoners; clear, laborious and consistent in the discussion of civil suits; faithful to his King and country in the indulgence of political principles; and attached to God in the exercise of Christianity.