Robert Yorke Hedges

Robert Yorke Hedges (1903–1963) was a British expatriate judge who was Chief Justice of Sarawak from 1946 to 1951.[1]

The Right Honourable Robert Yorke Hedges
3rd Chief Justice of Sarawak
In office 1946–1951
Nominated by	Clement Attlee
Appointed by	George VI
Preceded by	H. Thackwell-Lewis
Succeeded by	Sir Ivor Llewellyn Brace
Personal details
Born	Robert Yorke Hedges 6 August 1903 Colonial Nigeria
Died	26 May 1963 (aged 59)
Citizenship	British
Alma mater	Victoria University of Manchester Harvard University Gray's Inn
Occupation	Lecturer Judge
Profession	Lawyer

Hedges was born on 6 August 1903.[2] He was educated at Central High School then Victoria University of Manchester and completed his studies with Bachelor of Laws,[1] Between 1926 and 1927, he studied at Harvard then went to Geneva, where he obtained Diplôme de Hautes Études Internationales.[3] He also obtained LL.M and LL.D. by Manchester University.

After completing his studies, Hedges worked as a law lecturer at Manchester University,[1] in May 1936, he moved to Brisbane to continue teaching and was engaged as the dean of the newly established University of Queensland Law School. He was admitted into the Queensland bar, but his application for silk was rejected by reason of limited practice.[3] During World War II, he was worked for the British Army stationed in Australia, and in 1945 he was appointed legal staff officer in the military administration in British Borneo.[1] Hedges was Chief Justice of Sarawak from 1946 to 1951. In 1956, Hedges was nominated to become a judge at the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

References

1. "Mr. R.Y. Hedges". The Times (London). 30 May 1963.
2. Who's who in Australia. The Herald. 1950. p. 333. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
3. White, Michael. "HISTORY OF THE GARRICK CHAIR AT THE TC BEIRNE SCHOOL OF LAW" (PDF).