A Special Justice of Peace was appointed at Pearston in the district of Somerset East on 1 June 1890 (Government Gazette No 7188, dated 13 May 1890, Proclamation No 99 dated 9 May 1890).

An Assistant Resident Magistrate’s Court was established at Pearston on 17 April 1893 (Government Gazette No 7490, dated 14 April 1893, Government Notice No 321, dated 27 March 1893).

As from 18 November 1907 the Assistant Resident Magistrate of Pearston also received jurisdiction over parts of the districts of Jansenville and Graaff-Reinet (Government Gazette No 9016 dated 22 November 1907, Proclamation No 543 dated 18 November 1907).