Judge Advocate of New South Wales
![](../I/m/David_Collins.jpg)
The (Deputy) Judge Advocate of New South Wales was a ranking judicial officer in the Colony of New South Wales until the abolition of the role in 1823.[1]
Before the First Fleet sailed from England to colonise New South Wales, Marine Captain David Collins was appointed Deputy Judge Advocate of the colony, and Judge Advocate of the marines.[1]
The Judge Advocate held office in several courts.
- He was one of a bench of two Justices of the Peace in the Magistrates' Court.[note 1][1]
- He was president of the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction.[1]
- He was one of a bench of three judges in the Court of Civil Jurisdiction until its abolition in 1814.[note 2][1]
- In the Court of Appeal of New South Wales, he was advisor to the colony's Governor, who was the sole appeal judge.[1]
From 1814,
- He was assessor of the High Court of Appeal of New South Wales.[1]
- He was one of a bench of three magistrates in the Governors Court.[1]
David Collins held office from 1788 until 1796. He was temporarily replaced by Richard Bowyer Atkins until Richard Dore arrived in 1798. Dore was the first judge-advocate with legal qualifications. He died in 1800. Atkins was re-appointed and held office until late 1809, although he was temporarily deposed during the Rum Rebellion of 1808.
At the end of 1809, Ellis Bent, a barrister, arrived from England to take up the appointment as judge-advocate. He held the office until his death on 10 November 1815.
List of Judge Advocates
Name | From | Until | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1.[1] | ![]() | David Collins | 1788 | 1796 |
2. | Richard Bowyer Atkins | 1796 | 1798 | |
3. | Richard Dore | 1798 | 1800 (died) | |
4. | Richard Bowyer Atkins | 1800 | 1809 | |
5.[1] | ![]() | Ellis Bent | 1810 | 1815 (died) |
6.[1] | John Wylde | 1816 | 1824 |
Notes
- ↑ Replaced in 1821 by the Local Court of New South Wales.
- ↑ Succeeded by the Supreme Court of Civil Judicature of New South Wales, in which the Judge Advocate did not serve.
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Judge Advocate of New South Wales". State Records. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 28 April 2015.