The Judge Advocate of New South Wales, also referred to as the Deputy Judge Advocate 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]
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.
^ abFollowing the Rum Rebellion in January 1808, Major George Johnston who was acting as governor, purported to suspend Atkins and appoint Kemp as acting deputy judge advocate. In that capacity Kemp sat in the illegal court which tried William Gore for perjury.[5] Atkins was reinstated in December 1808.[3]
^Acting Deputy Judge Advocate following the death of Ellis Bent until the arrival of John Wylde