Solicitor-General of Queensland
| Solicitor-General of Queensland | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Department of Justice | |
| Appointer | Governor of Queensland |
| Term length | 5 years |
| Inaugural holder | Thomas Byrnes |
| Formation | 12 August 1890 |
The Solicitor-General of Queensland, known informally as the Solicitor-General, is the state's Second Law Officer, and the deputy of the Attorney-General. The Solicitor-General can exercise the powers of the Attorney-General in their absence. The Solicitor-General acts alongside the Crown Advocate and Crown Solicitor, and serves as one of the legal and constitutional advisers of the Crown and its government in the Australian state of Queensland.
The Solicitor-General is addressed in court as "Mr/Ms Solicitor". Despite the title, the position may only be filled by a barrister of at least ten years standing, for a period of five years. The inaugural Solicitor-General was Thomas Byrnes, who served from 12 August 1890 to 13 March 1893. The position was then vacant until 1922, when William Webb was appointed.[1] The current Solicitor-General is Gim Del Villar KC.
History and function[edit]
The relevant Solicitor-General Act 1985 (Qld) (the act) provides for the office of Solicitor-General. The act provides for an appointment for a term not exceeding five years, with the possibility of renewal.[2] A candidate for Solicitor-General must be a barrister of no less than 10 years.[2] The act provides the functions of the Solicitor-General are to act primarily for the Crown, state, or other person as requested by the Attorney-General for the benefit of the Government of Queensland.[3]
Office-holders 1890-present[edit]
| Name | Appointed | Concluded | Comments | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Byrnes | 12 August 1890 | 13 March 1893 | Appointed Attorney-General of Queensland and then Premier of Queensland | [4] |
position vacant 13 March 1893 to 11 April 1922
| ||||
| William Webb KBE | 11 April 1922 | 16 April 1925 | Appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland and then a Justice of the High Court of Australia | [4] |
| Hubert Henchman KC | 5 August 1937 | 31 December 1945 | Former Crown Solicitor | [4] |
| William Hamilton QC | 1 January 1946 | 31 December 1954 | Former Crown Solicitor | [4] |
| William Ryan | 1 January 1955 | 19 March 1970 | [4] | |
| Thomas Parslow QC | 21 January 1971 | 14 July 1980 | Former Crown Solicitor | [4] |
| Denis Galligan QC | 14 August 1980 | 29 February 1984 | Former Crown Solicitor | [4] |
| Kenneth Mackenzie | 20 June 1985 | 10 April 1989 | Appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland | |
| Geoffrey Davies AO | 31 October 1989 | 13 December 1991 | Appointed a Justice the Queensland Court of Appeal | [4] |
| Patrick Keane KC | 13 December 1992 | 17 February 2005 | Appointed a Justice of the High Court of Australia | [5][6] |
| Walter Sofronoff KC | 17 February 2017 | 13 March 2014 | Appointed a Justice of and President of the Queensland Court of Appeal | [7] |
| Peter Dunning KC | 10 April 2014 | 10 April 2019 | [4] | |
| Sandy Thompson KC | 11 April 2019 | 7 July 2022 | [8] | |
| Gim Del Villar KC | 25 July 2022 | Incumbent | [9] | |
References[edit]
- ^ "The first Solicitor-General". Crown Law. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ a b Solicitor-General Act 1985 (Cth) s 5(2)(a)(b).
- ^ Solicitor-General Act 1985 (Qld) s 8.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Gallery". Crown Law. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ Supreme Court Library of Queensland. "Judicial profiles: The Honourable Justice Patrick Keane AC". www.sclqld.org.au. Archived from the original on 4 March 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ Byrne, Elizabeth (5 March 2013). "Justice Keane completes the new-look High Court". ABC News. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
- ^ "Judicial Profiles". Supreme Court Library of Queensland. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ "Appointment of Mr Gavin Alexander Thompson as Solicitor-General". Crown Law. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ "NEW SOLICITOR-GENERAL FOR QUEENSLAND". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 28 February 2023.