John Stephen Curlewis | |
---|---|
6th Chief Justice of South Africa | |
In office 1936–1938 | |
Preceded by | Sir John Wessels |
Succeeded by | James Stratford |
Judge of the Appellate Division | |
In office 1927–1936 | |
Judge President of the Transvaal Supreme Court and Transvaal Provincial Division | |
In office 1924–1927 | |
Preceded by | Sir Arthur Weir Mason |
Succeeded by | Daniël de Waal |
Personal details | |
Born | Paarl, Cape Colony | 31 March 1863
Died | 24 August 1940 Pretoria, Transvaal, Union of South Africa | (aged 77)
Nationality | South African citizenship |
Alma mater | University of Cape Town |
John Stephen Curlewis, PC (31 March 1863 – 24 August 1940) [1] was a South African lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Union of South Africa between 1936 and 1938. [2] [3]: 7
Curlewis was born in Paarl, Cape Colony, the son of Rev. J.F. Curlewis the local rector at the Dutch Reformed Church. [3]: 7 He was educated at the Diocesan College, Rondebosch, before joining the Cape Civil Service. [2] [3]: 7 He then took the LL.B at Cape University, and was called to the Bar of the Cape Supreme Court in 1887. [3]: 7 He began to practice in Pretoria in 1888, before being appointed as a judge of the Transvaal High Court in 1903. [2] [3]: 7 In 1924 he became the Judge President of the Transvaal Provincial Division and in 1927 he was made a Judge of Appeal. [2] [3]: 7
Curlewis became Chief Justice of the Union of South Africa in 1936, and was made a Privy Counsellor the following year. [3]: 7 He resigned from the bench in 1938. [3]: 7 He was also acting Governor-General of South Africa in 1933 from June until December under a dormant commission that was invoked. [3]: 7