NRS-13681 | Chief Justices' letterbooks

Full description

These volumes contain copies of letters received and sent by successive chief justices dealing with a wide range of subjects, including letters sent in reply to petitions for mitigation of sentences or commutation of capital sentences, correspondence with the Colonial Secretary and Governor concerning the expenses of the Supreme Court establishment, the appointment of court officers (detailing the allocation of functions to court officers), the salaries of officers and judges, and the appointment of additional judges.

Section 22 of the Act 9 Geo. IV C83 provided that every law of the Legislative Council was to be submitted to the Supreme Court for ratification and enrolment. Volumes 1 and 2 contain copies of letters sent by judges to the Governor, the Clerk of the Councils and the Colonial Secretary suggesting amendments and alterations to legislation.

The majority of letters sent concern the administration of justice eg., to the Attorney General (relating to legal forms and General and Standing Rules of the Supreme Court), with the Master in Equity, Prothonotary and Registrar (concerning monies held on account in their respective offices), with the Sheriff (ordering him to carry out capital convictions), and returns of capital convictions sent to the Governor. Correspondence relating to the establishment of Quarter Sessions, the desirability, legality and establishment of Circuit Courts, and the defalcation of J.E. Manning, Registrar of the Supreme Court, are also included.

Letters sent include letters sent to solicitors (notably in the Chief Justice's capacity as chairman of the Barristers Admission Board), and to the Colonial Secretary and Governor (as members of successive Boards of Inquiry into the Administration of Justice). Volumes 3-5 (4/6653-54, 4/6657) contain letters sent only. The two volumes covering the period 1884-1905 are letterpress copies. The subject matter consists chiefly of reports on capital cases and the control of the officers of the Supreme Court.

Chief Justices and Acting Chief Justices who were likely to have contributed to the compilation of the letterbooks were:
Sir Francis Forbes CJ 1824 - 1837 Sir James Dowling ACJ 1936 - 1937 Sir Alfred Stephen CJ 1844 - 1873 Sir John Nodes Dickinson ACJ 1860 - 1861 Sir James Martin CJ 1873 - 1886 Sir Frederick Matthew Darley CJ 1886 - 1905 Matthew Henry Stephen ACJ 1902 - 1904

1824-65 (Kingswood 4/6651-54, 4/6657), Feb 1884-Jun 1905 (Kingswood 7/3867-68; photocopy COD 89A-90). 7 vols.

Note:
This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.