Chronicle of the law officers of Ireland/Patents of Precedence

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PREAUDIENCE AND PRECEDENCE OVER ALL HIS MAJESTYS COUNSEL.

Walter Archer,—Privy Seal, Westminster, July 9,—patent. Sept 14, 1615.—Life.—13 Jac. I.—Being a man learned in his profession, of good conformity in his religion, and otherwise for his life and manner well reported of, was admitted one of the King's counsel at law, and the rather because we understand (says the King) that good and necessary use may be made of his service there by reason of his knowledge of that country which the rest of our learned counsel there do want. In this grant is contained a clause of place and precedence in the King's courts or elsewhere, and preaudience, but with a proviso that the same should not derogate from any office before granted by the King or his predecessors.—After this no grants of preaudience appear until the close of George the Second's reign; however, all who retired from the office of Attorney-General or Prime Sergeant without accepting any higher place, generally had grants of preaudience.

Anthony Malone,—Privy Seal, Kensington, Oct. 23,—patent, Nov. 6, 1755.—Pleasure. By this patent he had a grant of preaudience, place and precedence of his Majesty's Prime Sergeant-at-Law, Attorney-General, and Solicitor-General, and all his Majesty's counsel, with full liberty of sitting and practising within the bar, as well in all the courts as elsewhere in Ireland, as any of his Majesty's counsel did or might[1]—29 Geo. II. 3a pars f. R. 36.—Grant renewed,—Privy Seal, April 18,—patent, June 3, 1763.—Pleasure.—3 Geo. III. 2a pars d. R. 1.

1798. Right Hon. William Saurin,—Privy Seal, 27 June,—patent, 6 July,—Inr. 21 July.—Pleasure.—Immediately after the Prime Sergeant, Attorney, and Solicitor-General.—38 Geo. III. 5a p. pag. R. 160.

1807. Right Hon. William Conynoham Plunket,—Privy Seal, 26 May.—Inr. 2 June.—47 Geo. III. 4a p. pag. R. 207.

1822. Right Hon. William Saurin, late At.-Gen.—King's letter for letters patent of preaudience to him, Carlton House, Jan. 15.—2 Geo. IV. Daniel O'Connell,—patent of precedence.—1 Wm. IV.

1830. Right Hon. Francis Blackburne, late Attorney-General.—5 Wm. IV.

  1. Letters patent of precedence are granted to such barristers, as the crown thinks proper to honour with that mark of distinction; whereby they are entitled to such rank and preaudience as are assigned in their respective patents; sometimes next after the King's Attorney-General, but usually next after his Majesty's counsel then being. These (as well as the Queen's Attorney and Solicitor-General) rank promiscuously with the King's counsel, and together with them sit within the bar of the respective courts, but receive no salaries, and are not sworn; and therefore are at liberty to be retained in causes against the crown.—Blackstone's Commentaries, iii. 27.