Judge Advocate of New South Wales

David Collins (1756–1810) was the first Judge Advocate of NSW[1]

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.

  1. He was one of a bench of two Justices of the Peace in the Magistrates' Court.[note 1][1]
  2. He was president of the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction.[1]
  3. He was one of a bench of three judges in the Court of Civil Jurisdiction until its abolition in 1814.[note 2][1]
  4. 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,

  1. He was assessor of the High Court of Appeal of New South Wales.[1]
  2. 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

  1. ↑ Replaced in 1821 by the Local Court of New South Wales.
  2. ↑ Succeeded by the Supreme Court of Civil Judicature of New South Wales, in which the Judge Advocate did not serve.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 "Judge Advocate of New South Wales". State Records. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 28 April 2015.