Lucas Cornelius Steyn
Encyclopedia
Lucas Cornelius Steyn was Chief Justice
of South Africa
and, as such, acted as Governor-General on two occasions.
Born in 1903, he graduated with law degrees from the University of Stellenbosch in 1926, was admitted as an advocate (the South African equivalent of a barrister
) in 1928, and obtained a doctorate in law in 1929.
He was Attorney-General of South West Africa
(which was then under South African administration) from 1931 to 1933, and worked in the Department of Justice from 1933 to 1944. He was appointed a King's Counsel in 1943. He assisted the South African delegation to the United Nations
from 1946 to 1949, and was a legal adviser in the 1950 International Court of Justice
hearing into South Africa's refusal to give up South West Africa.
Steyn was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court in 1951, a judge of the Appeal Court in 1955, and Chief Justice in 1959. As Chief Justice, he acted ex officio as Officer Administering the Government, i.e. acting Governor-General, for the period between the death of Dr Jansen
in 1959 and the installation of C.R. Swart
in 1960, and again between Swart's resignation as the last Governor-General in 1961 and his inauguration as the first State President a few weeks later. It was he who administered the oaths of office to Swart on both occasions.
Steyn married Huibrecht van Schoor in 1928. They had two children. He died in 1976.
Chief Justice of South Africa
The Chief Justice of South Africa is the head of the judiciary of South Africa, who exercises final authority over the functioning and management of all the courts...
of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and, as such, acted as Governor-General on two occasions.
Born in 1903, he graduated with law degrees from the University of Stellenbosch in 1926, was admitted as an advocate (the South African equivalent of a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
) in 1928, and obtained a doctorate in law in 1929.
He was Attorney-General of South West Africa
South West Africa
South-West Africa was the name that was used for the modern day Republic of Namibia during the earlier eras when the territory was controlled by the German Empire and later by South Africa....
(which was then under South African administration) from 1931 to 1933, and worked in the Department of Justice from 1933 to 1944. He was appointed a King's Counsel in 1943. He assisted the South African delegation to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
from 1946 to 1949, and was a legal adviser in the 1950 International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
hearing into South Africa's refusal to give up South West Africa.
Steyn was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court in 1951, a judge of the Appeal Court in 1955, and Chief Justice in 1959. As Chief Justice, he acted ex officio as Officer Administering the Government, i.e. acting Governor-General, for the period between the death of Dr Jansen
Ernest George Jansen
Ernest George Jansen was the second-last Governor-General of the Union of South Africa, holding office from 1950 to 1959.Born in 1881, he graduated with a law degree from the University of the Cape of Good Hope in 1905, and was admitted as an advocate in 1913.An ardent champion of Afrikaner...
in 1959 and the installation of C.R. Swart
Charles Robberts Swart
Charles Robberts Swart served as the last Governor-General of Union of South Africa from 1960 to 1961 and the first State President of the Republic of South Africa from 1961 to 1967.-Early life:...
in 1960, and again between Swart's resignation as the last Governor-General in 1961 and his inauguration as the first State President a few weeks later. It was he who administered the oaths of office to Swart on both occasions.
Steyn married Huibrecht van Schoor in 1928. They had two children. He died in 1976.