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A magistrate’s court was established at Bathurst on 8 March 1848 (Government Gazette No 2206 dated 9 March 1848, Proclamation dated 8 March 1848). According to the documents, however, the Resident Magistrate was unofficially in office since February 1847.

As from 15 March 1870 the court was transferred to Port Alfred (Government Gazette No 4211 dated 15 March 1870, Proclamation No 13 dated 15 March 1870).

On 10 August 1904 a periodical court to be held by the Magistrate of Port Alfred was established at Bathurst (Government Gazette No 8676 dated 19 August 1904, Proclamation No 255 dated 10 August 1904) and again discontinued on 30 May 1905 (Government Gazette No 8758 dated 2 June 1905, Proclamation No 172 dated 30 May 1905). No records of this periodical court could be traced.

On 1 October 1928 the Magistrate of Port Alfred was also appointed as Native Commissioner (Government Gazette No 1734 dated 26 October 1928, Government Notice No 1865 dated 26 October 1928).

Grahamstown developed into the main centre of the Eastern Province when the 1820 Settlers and some Boer families settled there.

On 15 September 1820 a court of Deputy Landdrost and Heemraden, under the control of the court of Landdrost and Heemraden at Uitenhage, was established for the better administration of justice in the new developed area.

In October 1820 it was, however, decided to establish a permanent seat of magistry in the district of Albany. The chief seat was situated in the town of Bathurst. The court of Heemraden consisted of the Heemrade resident within the limits of the sub-drostdy of Grahamstown.

The magistrate also acted as chairman of the matrimonial and liquor licensing courts.