Adelaide Supreme Court, Adelaide

The Supreme Court of South Australia, located in Adelaide, is the state's highest judicial authority and plays a crucial role in the Australian court hierarchy. The Court is unique among Australia's state supreme courts in that it was instituted at the very inception of South Australia. This early establishment was influenced by Edward Wakefield's theory of colonization, which emphasized the necessity of a supreme court in the new colony.

The Court in South Australia holds unlimited civil jurisdiction and hears the most serious criminal cases. It is led by a Chief Justice and other justices as needed. Established in May 1837 with Sir John Jeffcott as the first judge, the title of Chief Justice was introduced in 1855-1856. After Jeffcott died in late 1837, Henry Jickling served as acting judge, contributing notably to the Court's development. Sir Charles Cooper followed Jeffcott, succeeded by Justice Crawford, who introduced the wig in court. Justice Boothby, who replaced Crawford, sparked Australia's first constitutional crisis by rejecting colonial legislative authority, leading to the Colonial Laws Validity Act of 1865 and his removal in 1867.

The Court building, located in Victoria Square, is an architectural landmark reflecting the importance of justice in the state. Established as the Supreme Court in 1873, the building has also served other judicial functions, including as the Local and Insolvency Court. The structure is part of a significant historical group of law buildings, including the Magistrates Court, the original Police Court, and the Sir Samuel Way Law Courts. Despite internal alterations, the building retains much of its original detailing and furnishings, with Court Number 2 being the oldest original court interior in South Australia.

The Supreme Court has been associated with many notable figures in South Australia's legal history, including Sir Richard Davies Hanson, Sir Samuel Way, and Dame Roma Mitchell. Its grandeur and historical significance make it a major landmark and a key element of Adelaide's architectural heritage.