Big Boss Fella All Same Judge: A History of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory

Throughout the 20th century, the Court survived a judicial sacking, being left without a Judge in office, riots, two royal commissions, division into two courts, reconstitution and reconstruction of three occasions, the bombing of Darwin, Cyclone Tracy, and poor facilities to become eventually a modern institution with a new and grand courthouse in Darwin.

Other themes which are explored include trial by jury, sentencing powers, judicial independence, relations with the media, interpreters, mandatory sentencing, euthanasia, assimilation, Aboriginal land rights, the peculiar problems relating to the trial and sentencing of Aborigines as well as a detailed examination of some of the important causes celebre of the times- the trials of Tuckiar, the Chamberlains and Bradley John Murdock amongst many others.

All aspects of the Courts history are considered - libraries, court buildings. circuit courts, administration, court staff, appeal courts, rules of court, judicial appointments, chief justices, judges, masters, registrars and sheriffs, as well as the legal issues of the day, seen in the context of the Territorys socio-political evolution.