Sir Thomas John Mellis Napier (24 October 1882 – 22 March 1976) was an Australian judge and academic administrator. He was a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia (1924–1967), Chief Justice of South Australia (1942–1967), and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide (1948–1961).

Early life and education

Thomas John Mellis Napier was born in Dunbar in East Lothian to Dr. Alexander Disney Leith Napier FRSE and his wife Jessie Mellis. The family moved to London in 1887, where he attended the City of London School, and emigrated to Australia in 1896, Alexander Napier having taken the post of senior resident physician at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Thomas Napier studied law at the University of Adelaide, graduating LLB in 1902.

Legal career and related activities

In 1903 Napier became managing clerk for Kingston & McLachlan, and became a partner with McLachlan in 1906. He was appointed judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia in 28 February 1924, serving until 28 February 1967, and served as Chief Justice of South Australia from 25 February 1942 until 28 February 1967. In 1964, Napier presided over the trial of Glen Sabre Valance, the last man hanged in South Australia. Valance was also the second-to-last man to be executed in Australia overall.

Other roles

In 1912, together with Thomas Poole, Napier resuscitated the Law Society of South Australia, and served as its vice president in 1923. Napier was Chancellor of the University of Adelaide from 1948 to 1961.

Honours

Recognition and legacy

Personal life

On 24 October 1908 Napier married Dorothy Bell Kay (died 1959) at Walkerville. They had three sons, one of whom was killed while serving with the Royal Australian Air Force in 1944. He died on 22 March 1976 at Kingswood, South Australia and, following a state funeral, was cremated.