Cases for Opinion

Australia's oldest Supreme Court's double-century existence is commemorated in a dozen contributions by members of the Francis Forbes Society for Australian Legal History. Sir Francis Forbes (1784-1841) was the first Chief Justice of New South Wales. The book's cover images are suggestive of its contents and a fair reflection of significant events in NSW's history: the grand silver candelabrum was presented as 'a token of respect and esteem' by the legal profession and members of the public to Sir Francis on his retirement in 1837. His likeness is balanced on the right side by a bold satirical cartoon by Livingstone Hopkins of Chief Justice Sir Frederick Darley when in dispute with emerging trade unions.