Resident Magistrate
Encyclopedia
A resident magistrate is a title for magistrate
s used in certain parts of the world, that were, or are, governed by the British. Sometimes abbreviated as RM, it refers to suitably qualified personnel - notably well versed in the law - brought into an area from outside as the local magistrate, typically to be the guiding hand amongst other lay magistrates.
In colonial history, resident magistrates have had gubernatorial functions in a few minor, isolated colonial settlements, such as:
Resident magistrates' courts remain in operation as one of the divisions of the judiciary of Jamaica
, hearing civil and criminal cases in each parish of the island. The office of resident magistrate continued in Northern Ireland
until it was renamed in June 2008 as district judge (magistrates' courts), a continuation of the use of RMs in Ireland
before 1922, as popularised by the book and sitcom "The Irish RM".
(formerly German Barotse- or Zambezi-land; in present Namibia
) which had been administered by British Military Administrators since 21 September 1914 formally came under the administration of the British High Commissioner
s for Southern Africa, the last Military Administrator stayed on as the first of only two Deputy magistrates, the highest British colonial official actually resident in the Strip:
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
s used in certain parts of the world, that were, or are, governed by the British. Sometimes abbreviated as RM, it refers to suitably qualified personnel - notably well versed in the law - brought into an area from outside as the local magistrate, typically to be the guiding hand amongst other lay magistrates.
In colonial history, resident magistrates have had gubernatorial functions in a few minor, isolated colonial settlements, such as:
- AscensionAscension IslandAscension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America, which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa...
, as dependency of Saint HelenaSaint HelenaSaint Helena , named after St Helena of Constantinople, is an island of volcanic origin in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha which also includes Ascension Island and the islands of Tristan da Cunha...
; post filled by managers of Eastern Telegraph/Cable and Wireless since 1922 (previously under a Commanding OfficerCommanding officerThe commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
), replaced since June 1964 by an Administrator - Walvisbaai, only two incumbents shortly after the 12 March 1878 annexed by Britain as Walvis Bay protectorateProtectorateIn history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...
, first under a Captain; annexation confirmed 14 December 1878:- 1 June 1878 - November 1880 D. Erskine
- November 1880 - 7 August 1884 Benjamin Musgrave, staying on as Magistrate
Resident magistrates' courts remain in operation as one of the divisions of the judiciary of Jamaica
Judiciary of Jamaica
The judiciary of Jamaica is based on the judiciary of the United Kingdom.The courts are organized at four levels, with additional provision for appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. The Court of Appeal is the highest appellate court. The Supreme Court has unlimited...
, hearing civil and criminal cases in each parish of the island. The office of resident magistrate continued in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
until it was renamed in June 2008 as district judge (magistrates' courts), a continuation of the use of RMs in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
before 1922, as popularised by the book and sitcom "The Irish RM".
Deputy magistrate
When the Caprivi StripCaprivi Strip
Caprivi, sometimes called the Caprivi Strip , Caprivi Panhandle or the Okavango Strip and formally known as Itenge, is a narrow protrusion of Namibia eastwards about , between Botswana to the south, Angola and Zambia to the north, and Okavango Region to the west. Caprivi is bordered by the...
(formerly German Barotse- or Zambezi-land; in present Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
) which had been administered by British Military Administrators since 21 September 1914 formally came under the administration of the British High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
s for Southern Africa, the last Military Administrator stayed on as the first of only two Deputy magistrates, the highest British colonial official actually resident in the Strip:
- 1 January 1921 - c.1924 H. Neale
- 1940 - 1951 Lyall French Trollope