Administration of Justice (Language) Act (Ireland) 1737

The Administration of Justice (Language) Act (Ireland) 1737 was passed by the Parliament of Ireland in 1737. This Act, which forbids the use of any language but English in court proceedings, is still in force in Northern Ireland, and is primary, mandatory legislation that must be followed by all courts in the jurisdiction.[1][2] The equivalents of this Act passed for England in 1731 and for Wales in 1733 were repealed in 1863. Northern Ireland is thus the only area in the United Kingdom and Ireland, which has retained this legislation.

The statute was primarily directed at the perceived problem caused by the widespread use of legal French and Latin in courts but has had the effect of excluding autochthonous languages, given that it "excludes the use of any other tongue or language whatsoever". The Act is controversial among Irish language advocates, due to the fact that in Northern Ireland, a court proceeding cannot be carried out in the Irish language.

As per the New Decade, New Approach, an agreement that restored the devolved government in Northern Ireland on January 9, 2020, a legislation is expected to pass, that will repeal this act.