Robert Cusack (judge)

Robert Cusack (c.1516–1570) was an Irish judge of the sixteenth century, who held office as a Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland).

[1] He was strongly recommended for the position of Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, but was passed over for the office, though with a promise of future preferment.

[1] He was born at Cussington (now Cushinstown), County Meath, the eldest son of Sir Thomas Cusack, later Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and his first wife and cousin Joan Hussey.

He was a staunch Protestant, at a time when many Irish judges, including (reputedly) his own father, while publicly adhering to the Church of Ireland, practised the Roman Catholic faith in private.

He had a formidable group of supporters, including Adam Loftus, Archbishop of Dublin, Hugh Brady, Bishop of Meath, and the Queen's cousin Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormonde;[4] but against their pleas, he was passed over by Elizabeth in favour of Sir Lucas Dillon, James Bathe's son-in-law, despite Dillon's known inclination to the Roman Catholic faith.

The Queen however acknowledged that if Dillon had not had what she regarded (for reasons which are unclear) as the prior claim, she would have given the post to Cusack: for "we hear very good report of him.... and so we would have you inform him that he be not in any way discouraged".