Sir William Meigh Goodman (1847 – 3 May 1928) was a British lawyer and Judge. He served as Attorney General and Chief Justice of

British Honduras British Honduras was a Crown colony on the east coast of Central America — specifically located on the southern edge of the Yucatan Peninsula from 1783 to 1964, then a self-governing colony — renamed Belize from June 1973

and Hong Kong in the late 19th and early 20th Century. His last position before retirement was as Chief Justice of Hong Kong.

Early life

Goodman was born in 1847 and was the fourth son of Samuel Robert Goodman, of London. Goodman was educated at

University College of London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...

where he obtained a B.A.(hons) in 1867. He was called to the Bar at the

Middle Temple The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known simply as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court entitled to Call to the bar, call their members to the English Bar as barristers, the others being the Inner Temple (with whi ...

in 1870. He practised on the South Eastern Circuit and at the Surrey Sessions.

Career

Goodman served as

Attorney General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general (: attorneys general) or attorney-general (AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enf ...

(now Belize) from 1883 to 1886 and as Chief Justice of the same colony from 1886 to 1889. In 1886, he was commissioned to revise and consolidate the laws of British Honduras. In 1889, Goodman was appointed

Attorney-General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general (: attorneys general) or attorney-general (AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enf ...

and Admiralty Advocate of Hong Kong, taking up his post upon arrival on the ''City of Rio de Janeiro'' on 15 March of the next year. He was the first attorney-general of Hong Kong required to forego private practice. He served as acting Chief Justice from 6 March to 7 August 1895, during the absence of Sir Fielding Clarke, and for another four months in 1896 after the latter's retirement and was appointed a

Queen's Counsel A King's Counsel (Post-nominal letters, post-nominal initials KC) is a senior lawyer appointed by the monarch (or their Viceroy, viceregal representative) of some Commonwealth realms as a "Counsel learned in the law". When the reigning monarc ...

in 1900. In March 1902, he was appointed Chief Justice of Hong Kong and led the court until 1905. He was appointed a

Knight Bachelor The title of Knight Bachelor is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised Order of chivalry, orders of chivalry; it is a part of the Orders, decorations, and medals ...

in the November

1902 Birthday Honours The 1902 Birthday Honours were announced on 10 November 1902, to celebrate the birthday of Edward VII the previous day. The list included appointments to various orders and honours of the United Kingdom and the British Empire. The list was publi ...

, and received the dignity on 9 December 1902. In 1903 he presided over the laying of the foundation stone for the new Hong Kong Supreme Court building.

Personal life

After the loss of his wife to a brief illness on 22 May 1890, Goodman took a leave of absence from 8 July until 7 January the next year. He retired to England in 1905 and, in 1907, his book ''Reminiscences of a Colonial Judge'' was published. Though going by his second given name, he used the initial W on official documents. He died on 3 May 1928 at the age of 81.Obituary,

Straits Times ''The Straits Times'' (also known informally by its abbreviation ''ST'') is a Singaporean daily English-language newspaper owned by the SPH Media Trust. Established on 15 July 1845, it is the most-widely circulated newspaper in the country and ...

, 10 July 1928, p7.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goodman, William Meigh 1847 births 1928 deaths English civil servants Chief justices of British Honduras Chief justices of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong Attorneys general of Hong Kong Hong Kong Queen's Counsel Knights Bachelor Attorneys-general of British Honduras Alumni of University College London