Richard Graves MacDonnell
Richard Graves MacDonnell was named the first Chief Justice of the Gambia in 1843. Initially, in the colonial Gambia, the Chief Justice was, in fact, a Chief Magistrate, who presided over hearings of the Supreme Court of Judicature of the Gambia. The court held three sessions: the spring session during the first week of March, the summer session during the first week of July, and the autumn session during the third week of November. The court, at the time, had the same jurisdiction, authority and powers of the High Court of Justice did in England and Wales. In 1876, F. H. Spilsbury, the Colonial Surgeon, was appointed as acting Chief Magistrate.