The Solicitor-General of Queensland, known informally as the Solicitor-General, is the state's Second Law Officer, and the deputy of the Attorney-General. The Solicitor-General can exercise the powers of the Attorney-General in their absence. The Solicitor-General acts alongside the Crown Advocate and Crown Solicitor, and serves as one of the legal and constitutional advisers of the Crown and its government in the Australian state of Queensland.
The Solicitor-General is addressed in court as "Mr/Ms Solicitor". Despite the title, the position may only be filled by a barrister of at least ten years standing, for a period of five years. The inaugural Solicitor-General was Thomas Byrnes, who served from 12 August 1890 to 13 March 1893. The position was then vacant until 1922, when William Webb was appointed. The current Solicitor-General is Gim Del Villar KC.
History and function The relevant Solicitor-General Act 1985 (Qld) (the act) provides for the office of Solicitor-General. The act provides for an appointment for a term not exceeding five years, with the possibility of renewal.Solicitor-General Act 1985 (Cth) s 5(2)(a)(b). A candidate for Solicitor-General must be a barrister of no less than 10 years. The act provides the functions of the Solicitor-General are to act primarily for the Crown, state, or other person as requested by the Attorney-General for the benefit of the Government of Queensland.Solicitor-General Act 1985 (Qld) s 8.
Office-holders 1890-present Name Appointed ConcludedCommentsNotesThomas Byrnes12 August 189013 March 1893Appointed Attorney-General of Queensland and then Premier of Queenslandposition vacant 13 March 1893 to 11 April 1922William Webb 11 April 1922 16 April 1925Appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland and then a Justice of the High Court of AustraliaHubert Henchman 5 August 193731 December 1945Former Crown SolicitorWilliam Hamilton 1 January 194631 December 1954Former Crown SolicitorWilliam Ryan1 January 195519 March 1970Thomas Parslow 21 January 1971 14 July 1980Former Crown SolicitorDenis Galligan 14 August 198029 February 1984 Former Crown SolicitorKenneth Mackenzie20 June 198510 April 1989Appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of QueenslandGeoffrey Davies 31 October 198913 December 1991Appointed a Justice the Queensland Court of AppealPatrick Keane 13 December 199217 February 2005Appointed a Justice of the High Court of AustraliaWalter Sofronoff 17 February 201713 March 2014Appointed a Justice of and President of the Queensland Court of AppealPeter Dunning 10 April 201410 April 2019 Sandy Thompson 7 July 2022 Gim Del Villar 25 July 2022Incumbent
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