Thomas Slaney Poole, commonly referred to as "Justice Poole" was a South Australian lawyer.
History
Poole was born in Strathalbyn, South Australia, the eldest son of Frederic Slaney Poole "Canon Poole" and Rebecca Poole, née Scott. He attended St. Peter's College, where he had a distinguished scholastic career. He entered Trinity College, University of Melbourne, graduating BA with first class honours in Greek, Latin and comparative philology in 1894. In December 1894 Professor E. V. Boulger resigned his position as Professor of Classics and Comparative Philology and Literature at the University of Adelaide. Poole was appointed to take over his Classics lectures for the months of March to May 1895. He returned to Melbourne, where he graduated MA in 1896 and LLB in 1897. He was called to the Victorian Bar the same year. He then became associate to Justice Bundey in Adelaide, then entered a partnership with Percy Emerson Johnstone from around 1910 to 1919. Despite Poole's notorious misogyny, Mary Kitson was articled to this partnership, which later became Johnstone, Ronald and Kitson. Poole took silk in 1919 and was appointed fourth judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia on 25 September that same year. Arthur William Piper succeeded him on the bench on 16 June 1927. Poole acted as Administrator of South Australia from 9 April 1925 to the end of November while the Governor, Sir Tom Bridges and the Chief JusticeSir George Murray were absent from the State.
He was an active Freemason and was for several years until his death Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of South Australia. He laid the foundation stone of the new Masonic Temple on North Terrace on 15 April 1925.
Family
In 1903 the judge married Dora Frances Williams, a daughter of Rev. Francis Williams, for many years headmaster of St. Peter's College. They had three daughters:
He died at his home Alpha road, Prospect after several months' ill-health. His remains were buried at the North Road Cemetery following a State Funeral.
