NRS-1021 | New South Wales Charter of Justice, Letters Patent, 1787 (Manuscript)

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The New South Wales Court Act 1787, dated 2 April 1787, provided for the establishment of the first New South Wales Courts by executive action, achieved with the issue of these Letters Patent.

This copy of the Charter of Justice was the official one sent to the Colony. It was probably held initially by the Secretary to the Governor and later maintained by the Colonial Secretary's Department

The New South Wales Charter of Justice, Letters Patent is the authority for the establishment of the first New South Wales Courts of Criminal and Civil Jurisdiction. The Charter of Justice is in the form of Letters Patent providing for a Deputy Judge-Advocate and six court officers to be appointed by the Governor and the establishment of a Civil Court. The Governor was required to give his permission to any death sentence imposed by the Court, and was empowered to give pardons. The Civil Court had the power to deal with disputes over property and had jurisdiction over wills and estates. As the provision for establishing a Civil Court had not been included in the Act there was no legislative basis for its foundation.

The Charter was superseded on 2 April 1814 by the second Charter of Justice.