Benjamin Boothby

Justice

Born in England in 1803, Benjamin Boothby was moved to South Australia in 1853 to take up the position as second justice of the Supreme Court. During his service Boothby had a tense relationship with South Australia’s parliamentarians and often publically condemned their decisions. In 1867 he was removed from office for misbehaviour when he refused to acknowledge the authority of the Attorney-General and argued that the other two judges were illegitimate because they were not British-trained. Boothby died of a stroke in 1868 while this decision was being appealed.