The High Court () of Ireland is a court which deals at first instance with the most serious and important civil and criminal cases. When sitting as a criminal court it is called the Central Criminal Court and sits with judge and jury. It also acts as a court of appeal for civil cases in the Circuit Court. It also has the power to determine whether or not a law is constitutional, and of judicial review over acts of the government and other public bodies. Structure The High Court is established by Article 34 of the Constitution of Ireland, which grants the court "full original jurisdiction in and power to determine all matters and questions whether of law or fact, civil or criminal", as well as the ability to determine "the validity of any law having regard to the provisions of this Constitution". Judges are appointed by the President. However, as with almost all the President's constitutional powers, these appointments are made on "the advice of the Government". In practice, this means that the judges are nominated by the government and automatically approved by the President. The High Court is composed of its president, 42 ordinary judges, and additional judges being ex officio the Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeal, the President of the Circuit Court, and former chief justices and courts presidents who remain judges. Cases are normally heard by one judge, but the President of the High Court may order that a particular case be heard by three judges sitting together — a so-called 'divisional court'. The court normally hears cases in the Four Courts building in Dublin, although it also has regular sittings outside the capital. Mella Carroll was the first woman to serve on the court and did so between 1980 and 2005. Central Criminal Court The High Court is known as the 'Central Criminal Court' when it is hearing a criminal case. The Central Criminal Court has exclusive jurisdiction over the following criminal offences: treason, encouraging, harbouring, or comforting treason, an offence under section 6, 7, or 8 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939, piracy, genocide, a severe breach of the Geneva Conventions, murder, rape, rape under section 4 of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990, and aggravated sexual assault, burglary with intent to commit rape, and anti-competitive behaviour and abuse of a dominant market position contrary to the