Wilfred Blacket facts for kids

Wilfred Blacket (born September 27, 1859 – died February 6, 1937) was an Australian lawyer known as a barrister. A barrister is a special type of lawyer who represents people in court.

Early Life and Education

Wilfred Blacket was born in Sydney, Australia. His father, Russell Blacket, was a clerk, and his mother was Alicia Jackson. Wilfred grew up in a place called Keira Vale. His father later became the schoolmaster there.

When he was fifteen, Wilfred started working as a bank clerk. He also began writing for a well-known Australian magazine called The Bulletin. By the 1880s, he became the first official sub-editor for the magazine. A sub-editor helps prepare articles for publication.

Becoming a Lawyer

While working, Wilfred also studied law. In 1887, he officially became a barrister, which is sometimes called being "called to the bar." He mostly worked in district courts, which are local courts that handle many different types of cases. He often defended Aboriginal people who were accused of crimes.

In 1894, Wilfred married Gertrude Louisa Lovegrove. By this time, he had a very successful law practice.

Political Interests

Wilfred Blacket was also interested in politics. He ran for a seat in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly twice. This assembly is like a parliament for the state of New South Wales, where laws are made. He ran as a member of the Protectionist Party. This party believed in protecting local industries by putting taxes on goods from other countries.

Important Legal Work

Around 1900, Wilfred Blacket became the secretary for the Statute Law Consolidation Commission. This group worked to organize and simplify the laws of the state. Even though he was very qualified, he was not chosen to be a judge in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the state.

From 1916 to 1917, he worked as a royal commissioner. This meant he was appointed by the government to investigate how the new capital city (which would become Canberra) was being managed.

In 1912, Wilfred Blacket was given the special title of King's Counsel. This is a high honor for a barrister, often called "taking silk" because of the special silk gown they wear. After this, he mainly worked in the High Court of Australia. The High Court is the highest court in Australia, dealing with important legal cases and interpreting the country's constitution. In the High Court, he became known for having strong opinions and supporting workers' unions.

In 1927, he wrote a book about his life and legal experiences called May It Please Your Honour. Wilfred Blacket passed away in 1937 in Lindfield.