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. "Judge Advocate of New South Wales". State Records. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 28 April 2015.