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

References