Judge Advocate of New South Wales facts for kids
The Judge Advocate of New South Wales was a very important legal job in the early days of the Colony of New South Wales. This colony later became a part of Australia. The Judge Advocate was like a top judge and legal advisor. This role existed until 1823.
Before the First Fleet sailed from England to start the colony, a man named David Collins was chosen for this role. He was a Marine Captain. He became the Deputy Judge Advocate for the colony and the Judge Advocate for the marines.
Contents
What Did a Judge Advocate Do?
The Judge Advocate had many important duties in different courts. They helped make sure laws were followed and justice was served in the new colony.
Roles in Different Courts
The Judge Advocate played a key part in several courts:
- In the Magistrates' Court, the Judge Advocate was one of two Justices of the Peace. These were local officials who handled smaller legal matters.
- They were the head, or president, of the Court of Criminal Jurisdiction. This court dealt with serious crimes.
- Until 1814, the Judge Advocate was one of three judges in the Court of Civil Jurisdiction. This court handled disagreements between people.
- In the Court of Appeal of New South Wales, the Judge Advocate gave legal advice to the colony's Governor. The Governor was the only judge for appeals.
Changes After 1814
After 1814, the Judge Advocate's duties changed a bit:
- They became an assessor in the High Court of Appeal of New South Wales. An assessor helps the judge understand complex legal points.
- They were also one of three magistrates in the Governors Court.
Important Judge Advocates
Several people held the important role of Judge Advocate during the early years of the colony.
David Collins
David Collins was the first Judge Advocate. He served from 1788 until 1796. He helped set up the legal system in the new colony.
Richard Bowyer Atkins and Richard Dore
After Collins left, Richard Bowyer Atkins temporarily took over. Then, Richard Dore arrived in 1798. Dore was the first Judge Advocate who was a trained lawyer. Sadly, he passed away in 1800. Atkins was then appointed again. He held the job until late 1809. He was briefly removed from his role during a time of trouble called the Rum Rebellion in 1808.
Ellis Bent
At the end of 1809, Ellis Bent came from England. He was a barrister, which is a type of lawyer. He became the Judge Advocate and served until his death on November 10, 1815.
The role of Judge Advocate was very important in shaping the early legal system of New South Wales. It was eventually ended in 1823 as the colony grew and its legal system became more developed.
