b'Opening of the Supreme Courtof New South WalesThe opening of the new Supreme Court of New Southsolicitor and barrister. Wardell and Wentworth arguedWales in 1824 was a demonstration of the colonysthat the intention of the third Charter of Justice, whichgrowing maturity. Great fanfare surrounded the event.was introduced at the same time as the opening of theIt was also, however, the catalyst for spirited debate overnew Supreme Court, was for the role of solicitors and the structure of the legal profession, which pitted Englishbarristers to be divided as it was in England.tradition against colonial pragmatism. Two barristers who had recently been admitted to the bar in London, RobertThe solicitors argued for their right to participate in theWardell and William Charles Wentworth (who was alsonew court, contending that this was the most practical way one of the first non- Indigenous people to cross the Blueof ensuring a functioning legal system in the early days of Mountains), moved that only legal professionals admittedthe colony. Frederick Garling led the solicitors and is reported as barristers in the English courts should have the right toas saying he felt it his duty to resist every such attempt to appear as barristers in the Supreme Court. This reflecteddeny solicitors the right of appearance in the courts.the split structure of the profession in England, where barristers and not solicitors were permitted to appear inThe Supreme Court found in favour of the solicitors andcourt for their clients. all colonial attorneys continued to act in both roles untila division of the profession was officially introduced inAt the time, George was one of six solicitors in the colony.New South Wales in 1834.With so few lawyers, they had all been acting as both Letters patent for the third Charter of Justicewere proclaimed in Sydney on 17 May 1824,authorising the establishment of the Supreme Court ofNew South Wales with limited provisions for trial by jury.25'