David Edwards (judge)
Encyclopedia
His Honour Judge David Sutherland Edwards (19 September 1871 – 21 July 1936) was an Australia
n judge
of the District Court of New South Wales
, a NSW Electoral Commissioner
and Royal Commissioner.
a son of Frederick William Edwards, Stipendiary Magistrate. From Coonabarabran Public School he won a scholarship to West Maitland High School
. Three years later, when his father was promoted from police magistrate to stipendiary magistrate and was transferred to Sydney, he became a pupil at Newington College
(1889–1891). At the University of Sydney
he graduated B.A., with first-class honours in Latin
and second-class honours in Greek
, in 1895, and gained his LL.B. degree in 1899. From 1895 to 1897, whilst a student at the University, he was on the teaching staff of Newington College.
against Victoria
in 1896, 1898, 1899 (twice), 1900, and 1901 (twice). On one occasion, though not in an interstate match, he defeated Norman Brookes
.
on 1 July 1924. He was appointed Electoral Commissioner for New South Wales on 19 February 19, 1929, and retained that position, in addition to his Judgeship, until November 1934. He was chairman of the Commission which dealt witli State electoral boundaries in 1931, and also sat on the Royal Commission on the Federal Land Tax. He resigned from the Bench in July 1935, because of failing health.
in producing a work on the Workers' Compensation Act in 1916.
and the funeral took place at Rookwood Cemetery
after a service at St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Summer Hill
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the District Court of New South Wales
District Court of New South Wales
The District Court of New South Wales has jurisdiction to hear most indictable offences . It hears appeals from the Local Court and civil claims up to A$750 000. In some circumstances the amount may be higher, e.g. with the consent of the parties or in motor accident claims etc...
, a NSW Electoral Commissioner
New South Wales Electoral Commission
The New South Wales Electoral Commission is the agency of the Government of New South Wales with responsibility for the adminisation, organisation, and supervision of elections in New South Wales for state government, local government, industrial and Aboriginal organisations, and registered clubs...
and Royal Commissioner.
Early life
Edwards was born in Coonabarabran, New South WalesCoonabarabran, New South Wales
Coonabarabran is a town in Warrumbungle Shire in northern New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, the town had a population of 2,609.-History and description:...
a son of Frederick William Edwards, Stipendiary Magistrate. From Coonabarabran Public School he won a scholarship to West Maitland High School
Maitland High School
Maitland High School is situated in East Maitland, New South Wales, Australia on High Street. Established in 1884 and operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training, the school currently caters for approximately 800 students from Years 7 to 12, and is situated near its sister...
. Three years later, when his father was promoted from police magistrate to stipendiary magistrate and was transferred to Sydney, he became a pupil at Newington College
Newington College
Newington College is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Stanmore, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
(1889–1891). At the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
he graduated B.A., with first-class honours in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and second-class honours in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, in 1895, and gained his LL.B. degree in 1899. From 1895 to 1897, whilst a student at the University, he was on the teaching staff of Newington College.
Tennis career
Edwards had an outstanding record as a tennis player and represented New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
against Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
in 1896, 1898, 1899 (twice), 1900, and 1901 (twice). On one occasion, though not in an interstate match, he defeated Norman Brookes
Norman Brookes
Brookes was also an Australian rules footballer in his youth, playing two matches for Victorian Football League club St Kilda Football Club in 1898, kicking two goals.-Honours:Norman Brookes was knighted "in recognition of service to public service" in 1939...
.
Legal career
After graduating Edwards read for the Bar with C. B. Stephen and Sir William Owen. Upon his admission he practised at the Bar with until his elevation to the Bench of the District Court of New South WalesDistrict Court of New South Wales
The District Court of New South Wales has jurisdiction to hear most indictable offences . It hears appeals from the Local Court and civil claims up to A$750 000. In some circumstances the amount may be higher, e.g. with the consent of the parties or in motor accident claims etc...
on 1 July 1924. He was appointed Electoral Commissioner for New South Wales on 19 February 19, 1929, and retained that position, in addition to his Judgeship, until November 1934. He was chairman of the Commission which dealt witli State electoral boundaries in 1931, and also sat on the Royal Commission on the Federal Land Tax. He resigned from the Bench in July 1935, because of failing health.
Publications
He was the author of a Manual for Justices, and, in collaboration with Herbert Curlewis, he wrote a book on prohibitions, both at common law and under the Justices Act. In collaboration with E. A. A. Russell, he edited a standard work on the Commonwealth Bills of Exchange Act in 1912, and he also collaborated with W. Tighe and Percival Halse RogersPercival Halse Rogers
Sir Percival Halse Rogers KBE was an Australian jurist and university chancellor.-Early life:Halse Rogers was born in Gunnedah, New South Wales, the second son of a Methodist minister and was educated at Newington College . He became a resident of St Andrew's College, at the University of Sydney...
in producing a work on the Workers' Compensation Act in 1916.
Family
In 1910, Edwards married Beatrice Elmer, who on his death survived him. They had three sons, Colin, Phillp David, and Maxwell Sutherland, and one daughter, Elmer Nancy. Edwards died at home in Ashfield, New South WalesAshfield, New South Wales
Ashfield is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Ashfield is about 9 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Ashfield.The official name for the...
and the funeral took place at Rookwood Cemetery
Rookwood Cemetery
Rookwood Cemetery is the largest multicultural necropolis in the Southern Hemisphere, located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
after a service at St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Summer Hill
Summer Hill, New South Wales
Summer Hill is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Summer Hill is located 8 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Ashfield....
.