When SDLP leader John Hume resigned from the Northern Ireland Assembly, effective from December 2000, Courtney was co-opted as his replacement, representing Foyle.[2] Courtney was keen to contest the 2003 Northern Ireland Assembly election for the party, but did not gain the SDLP's nomination. As a result, she resigned from the party in April 2003 and instead sat as an independent.[3] Courtney stood as an independent in the election,[4] but took only 802 votes and was not elected.[5]