Solicitor-General of Queensland

Solicitor-General of Queensland
Incumbent
Gim Del Villar KC
since 25 July 2022
Department of Justice
AppointerGovernor of Queensland
Term length5 years
Inaugural holderThomas Byrnes
Formation12 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.

Thomas Joseph Byrnes, Queensland's first Solicitor-General

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

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

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

  1. ^ "The first Solicitor-General". Crown Law. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b Solicitor-General Act 1985 (Cth) s 5(2)(a)(b).
  3. ^ Solicitor-General Act 1985 (Qld) s 8.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Gallery". Crown Law. 29 April 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Byrne, Elizabeth (5 March 2013). "Justice Keane completes the new-look High Court". ABC News. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
  7. ^ "Judicial Profiles". Supreme Court Library of Queensland. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Appointment of Mr Gavin Alexander Thompson as Solicitor-General". Crown Law. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  9. ^ "NEW SOLICITOR-GENERAL FOR QUEENSLAND". Ministerial Media Statements. Retrieved 28 February 2023.